Is this really the worst job?

As I was getting ready for work last week, I heard a report on the radio about what are the best and worst jobs to have. Best job to have was actuary, at the bottom of the list of 200 was my profession, newspaper reporter.

Let’s just say I was a little skeptical when I heard that.

CareerCast.com, a jobssearch website, did the survey. They judged the list on data based on environment, income, outlook and stress. Rounding out the top 10 on their list of worst jobs was lumberjack, enlisted military personnel, actor, oil rig worker, dairy farmer, meter maid, mail carrier, roofer and flight attendant.

Of course, I wasn’t the only reporter to question these results. An article at blog.bleacherreport.com asked how the data stands up to "the sniff test." The columnist listed three jobs, best to worst, social worker, physician assistant and surgeon. Of course once the incomes were added, social worker – $41,169, physician assistant – $89,097, surgeon – $311,078, I questioned the results more.

True, money isn’t everything, but it does sometimes indicate how much we value a profession. Also, based on the website’s own criteria, wouldn’t the outlook and environment be the same for a physician assistant and surgeon? Granted the stress for a surgeon is probably more, but so is the responsibility they have.

I won’t argue that there is stress in my job. As a reporter, you have to follow the rules of writing (no text speech such as on Twitter), make sure that names are spelled right and that you have the facts right. If you have any of that wrong, you will hear about it. On that note, I would like to apologize for my column last week when I listed AMPI as American when it should have been Associated Milk Producers Inc.

During the radio report, to add insult to injury, the DJ described newspaper reporter as "a job disappearing before our eyes." I’ve always felt a more accurate description would be that it is a job that is changing. One aspect is that more newspapers are including online editions besides hardcopies. This still requires reporters to show up at meetings, festivals and other occurrences and then reporting on it.

I don’t doubt there will continue to be changes for newspaper reporters, although I think they will still be around for a longer period than people are predicting.

As for whether I have the worst job, well, I get to meet many people for a variety of reasons. Some for their hobbies, others for events they are organizing. I’m not stuck behind a desk the majority of the time. I find out and relay a lot of interesting aspects about New Prague, Elko New Market and the area. All in all, I find it to be a job that I enjoy.