Is there really a shortage of good writers?
Changes in the job market and what job seekers perceive as what agencies need could be putting writing on a downward trend.
A decline in writing skills is a common lament at agencies and corporations, but it’s not a new issue.
Folks have been wringing their hands about the loss of writing skills for years. Heck, I remember hearing about it when I entered the workforce in 1996.
A few new factors point to a significant shortage of proficient writers in our market, and it could get worse before it gets better. Those pivotal factors:
Journalism jobs continue to disappear.
What does this have to do with PR/communications? A number of displaced journalists go on to become PR counselors.
Also, as journalism jobs dry up, fewer people will pursue journalism degrees. (Would you want your kids to go to J-school right now?) Looking toward the future, these people may opt for entirely different careers—and we’ll lose out on a whole generation of would-be writers.
Social media marketing and digital marketing is expanding.
Digital and social media jobs are plentiful these days. I often get emails from friends and colleagues looking for people with those requisite skill sets. We’ll continue to see people with PR/comms backgrounds migrating into digital roles.
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