New research released by Telum Media suggests Australian journalists are optimistic about the future of the media industry in 2022, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, global economic and climate change concerns, and the spread of misinformation online. This is just one of the findings from the inaugural Telum Asia Pacific Journalism Survey 2022, which polled 1,133 journalists across the region, with more than 200 responses in Australia.
The results suggest Aussie journalists are focused on job security in 2022, with 67% of respondents planning to stay in their current role or move within the same media company this year. More than half of journalists surveyed (55%) have also received a salary increase in the last 12 months.
As the spread of misinformation online continues, an overwhelming number of respondents appear to have a strong sense of purpose in their work with more than 70% reporting the rise of social media and digital platforms has either elevated or reinforced the need for quality journalism.
Telum’s managing director, Asia Pacific, Tim Williamson said despite some apprehension about the future of the media industry, Australian journalists largely appear to be looking forward. “It is clear from this year’s Telum Asia Pacific Journalism Survey that journalism is as important, if not more so, than it has ever been,” Williamson said. “Journalists in Australia seem to have a clear sense of purpose and cautious optimism about the industry they love.”
While 33% of journalists in Australia were the most likely to be concerned about job security in 2022, more than half (52%) would still recommend a career in journalism. 42.5% of Aussie journalists remain optimistic or cautiously optimistic about the media industry’s outlook for 2022.
Monica Attard, Co-Director at the University of Technology Sydney’s Centre for Media Transition said this optimism was a good sign. “The fact is that in 2021, we have seen an enormous number of opportunities open for graduates of journalism, and whilst the jobs might not look the same as they did ‘back in the day’, they are, by and large, producing journalism or journalism-adjacent outcomes,” Attard said.
Key findings from the survey include:
• 67% of journalists plan on staying in their current role or moving within the same media company this year.
• 55% of journalists have received a salary increase in the last 12 months.
• 33% were the most likely to be concerned about job security in 2022.
• 52% of journalists would still recommend a career in journalism.
• 42.5% are optimistic, or cautiously optimistic, about the media industry’s outlook for 2022.
• 70% of survey respondents felt the rise of social media and digital platforms either elevated or reinforced the need for quality journalism.