The company's competitive advantage comes from scooping up ex-journalists, whose transferable skills are perfect for producing top-quality content online
Whether it’s attributed to the rise of misinformation, AI or the cost of living, it’s an accepted fact that jobs in the media continue to dwindle.
According to data from *Press Gazette, in 2023 there were upwards of 8,000 job cuts in the US and UK alone, with 2024 early data showing about 2,500 jobs culled as major outlets such as Condé Nast, The Los Angeles Times, WSJ and more made major redundancies.
Yet there are still plenty of young people who want to write professionally, with, for example, the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) reporting that the number of women enrolling in its Sports Journalism course has risen steadily in recent years, from 7% in 2021/2022 to 14% the next year to finally reach 20% in 2024.
Clickout Media, a global marketing and content company, has revealed that the cuts to traditional media jobs – which have not just been axed at alarming rates in the US and UK, but elsewhere – have proved extremely beneficial for business
Neil Roarty, head analyst at Clickout Media, comments:
“Hiring from the competition is standard, but focusing on transferrable skills and desirable traits is something that many corporations are seriously lacking. A good writer can write about multiple topics adeptly, and we’ve really found ex-journalists to be a superb fit for our team.”
As part of that strategy, Clickout has filled key positions with trained journalists, including hiring former sports reporter at Express Newspapers, Owen Fulda, as Head of PR Content, a position in which he’s still thriving, with much of his content team also coming from publications such as The Sun, The Telegraph and The Daily Mail, rather than from traditional PR or marketing roles.
“Clickout Media has built its reputation on producing top quality content but that focus has sharpened further due to recent Google algorithm updates and the change in site rankings. Authority is more relevant than ever and skilled journalists, with bodies of work often going back to their teenage years, are a valuable asset for any reputable web publisher.”
“Additionally, the unique skills honed by journalists during their training and career can be transferred seamlessly into the world of PR and content, if the journalist is adaptable. Journalists are trained to write clearly, concisely, and engagingly, while journalistic intuition and the ability to identify strong stories should be second nature. We find our recruits already have a grasp of what makes a story newsworthy and how to pitch it.”
Newsrooms + transferable skills
Other transferable skills from newsrooms that Clickout Media has found invaluable include the network of relationships, conducting thorough research and fact-checking. These all help to make sure that materials are accurate and credible – and there is media law training which is crucial to avoid legal situations that could arise from defamation or libel.
The company has, therefore, started to look directly at writers trained in NCTJ-accredited courses and recently hired five content writers directly out of the University of Derby. This relationship will continue to grow as the business plans to foster more relationships with journalism training centres, which is a high priority for Clickout Media in 2025.
Roarty summarises: “Journalists are often experienced in handling fast-paced, high-pressure situations which can prove invaluable when working on time-sensitive releases such as interview transcripts.
“There is often talk about talent shortages but journalism is an industry brimming with sharp minds and the ability to execute tasks quickly and efficiently. Yes, there may be an element where those currently working in traditional media may have to adapt but this has always been the way for the industry.
What we are finding at Clickout though is that by proactively opening doors for trained journalists to learn and hone new skills, both they and the company thrives.”
