LAYOFFS.COM

February 2001
		If the recent happenings in the Internet news industry are any indication, now might not be the time to seek out that online reporting job of your dreams. What's behind the recent spate of online news layoffs? Three experts take your questions.

Forum introduction Will tech jobs be affected by the economic downturn? Will news sites build back up to their pre-layoff size? What should one do to become a Web journalist? Are there still Web jobs to be had? Is the building stage over at news sites?     Online Special Layoffs.com Online Special Media Watch Jan. 8, 2001 The New York Times lays off 17 percent of its Internet division. Dec. 21, 2000 Salon.com lays off 20 percent of its staff. Oct. 12, 2000 Layoffs at the Tribune Company Sept. 19, 2000 Pseudo.com goes under.

Prashant Swaroop of New Delhi, India asks: Would it be feasible to come to the U.S. -- leaving one’s present stable job -- to find a job in Web development? Are there jobs to be had, or has the economic slowdown made them disappear?   Neil Budde responds: The slowdown has made the market for "Web developers" much tighter. Certainly, very talented programmers are in demand. But some other Web development skills such as HTML and design skills are not as needed. Even so, I'm not sure I'd leave a stable job to seek work in another country.   Hoag Levins responds: Employment opportunities specific to Web development have taken a dramatic turn for the worse of late but all is not bleak. While news, feature, financial and e-commerce Web sites have collapsed by the dozen in the US, many of the experienced Web development workers they employed have found new positions in other areas of online activities. For instance, large corporations -- particularly those involved in medical products, services and information -- are expanding their Web site operations. While overblown Web pay scales have been deflated by the latest industry downturn, there are still many good Web development jobs to be found by applicants who are as qualified as they are tenacious.   David Talbot responds: The Web developer market is obviously in a cooling period at this moment, but there's still demand, which tends to concentrate in specific market areas that are flavor-of-the-moment. Recently that's been in the wireless area, but no doubt in three months it will be somewhere else.