Laid Off (or taken a package?): What do UK journalists do next?
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1. Welcome.

 
These have been bruising times for the newspaper industry – and, more specifically, for those who have who have been laid off.

Journalism researchers at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston are collaborating with the team at Journalism.co.uk to survey former newspaper journalists to examine their lives after leaving the newsroom.

We would appreciate it if you would complete the following questionnaire because your participation is important to the validity of the study.

Please be assured that your individual responses will remain anonymous and will only be reported as part of the group results. However, if you would like a summary of the survey findings, you can include your contact details at the end of the survey.

Your participation is voluntary and you may refuse to answer any question. The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete. By completing the survey, you indicate your consent to participate in the study.

Some of the items may appear to be redundant or to have very similar meaning but please go ahead and respond to each individual item. After answering the questions and moving to the next page, please DO NOT click the back button.

If you have questions, or comments about the study, please contact François Nel at +(0)1772)894730, or FPNel @ uclan.ac.uk.

And, of course, if you could pass this link along to other journalists who have been laid off recently, that would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

*This study draws on a US study by Scott Reinardy and colleagues at the University of Kansas.

1. When were you laid off or let go from your newspaper?

 MonthYear
The last month of work (select from the drop-down menu)

2. What newspaper were you working for at the time of your layoff?

*

3. While at the newspaper, which of the following best described your job title?

4. How many years have you been a journalist?

We would like to know about your experiences during the process of being laid off.

5. Please rate the extent to which you agree with the following stateements.

 Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeither agree nor disagreeAgreeStrongy Agree
When decisions were made about job reductions and reassignments, management treated me with kindness and respect
Management made sure that all employee concerns were heard before job changes and elimination decisions were made
Management explained very clearly all the decisions made about restructuring
When decisions were made about job changes and eliminations, my manager and others in management treated me with respect and dignity

6. What reason did management give for laying you off?

We would like to know how your experiences have affected your attitudes towards the profession.

7. Please tell us how you feel about journalism.

 Not at all Definitely
I consider journalism a “calling”
Journalism defines who I am
Journalism is just a job for me
I am proud to tell people I am a journalist
Journalism is a satisfying profession
Being a journalist is no different from other professions
I have a passion for journalism
Being a journalist is a noble profession
Please respond to the following questions/statements about your job plans.

8. Have you found other work?

9. If so, where are you working and what are you doing?

10. Please mark the item that best describes your career plans. If you plan a portfolio career, please use the space below to provide additional detail:

11. If you are pursuing a journalism job, how will you market yourself?

12. If you are returning to studying or intend to receive training in another field, what profession will you pursue?

13. Before the layoff, did you expect to retire as a newspaper journalist?

14. If you answered "no" to Questions 11, what did you expect to do when you left newspapers?

15. If you answered "yes" to Question 11, do you still believe you will retire as a newspaper journalist?

16. Knowing what you know now, would you still have become a journalist?

17. What is it like for you knowing that your career in traditional newspaper journalism might be finished?

18. What do you see as the future of newspapers?

19. Looking back, is there anything you could have done to keep your job?

20. What worries you the most about your future?

21. Please respond to the following statements about how you have been dealing with your job loss.

If you have found another full-time job, please skip to question 20.

 Hardly everAlmost always
I focus my time and energy on job search activities
I think about my skills and all the qualifications I have to offer
I allow friends or family to assist with money matters
Increasing social and ethnic diversity in British newsrooms is an industry goal.

We are interested in seeing to what extent the staff layoffs have affected these activities and would appreciate your responses to the following sensitive questions.

22. How old are you?

23. What is your highest level of education? (Click all that apply)

24. Are you married or living with a long-term partner?

25. If you have a partner, does your spouse work at a fulltime job?

26. Do you have children living at home?

27. Which of the following best describes your race? (As described in the UK census)

28. Where were you born?

 Country
Please select from the drop-down menu

29. Your gender?

30. What best describes you sexuality?

31. Which best describes your social class background?

Thank you very much for contributing to this study!

32. If you would like a summary of the findings, please add your contact details below.

33. If you have any additional comments about the issue, or questions about the project, please use the space below to let us know. Thank you.