Now, the Golden Age he describes is not particularly gilded and encrusted. It's lower-paying, often with the uncertainty of self-employment, and sometimes in non-traditional elements of the business that come with some changes in standards and practices.
But Michael Mandel, now the head of a journalism entrepreneurial enterprise, believes America is approaching a new, fortified time for journalism employment. The numbers back him up, even if they come with asterisks. Jobs are arriving at a faster rate than the economy is growing, but many of these jobs are not the kind journalists historically know.
"A shift in journalistic employment to nontraditional industries, an increased in the self-employed, a delayering of journalism, and perhaps lower pay," he concludes.
"It may not pay as much, but it is going to be a heckuva lot of fun."