IFJ report: Young journalists work less traditional jobs, for less

Posted by Maddie Hanna on June 12, 2006 at 11:38 AM

Younger graduates are increasingly replacing experienced journalists worldwide, often working for less pay as freelancers or short-term workers, according to a new International Federation of Journalists report.

While recent graduates might say the statistics bode well for those trying to break into the field, the shift could have a negative impact on the journalism industry, IFJ general secretary Aidan White said. “If journalists’ employment is precarious and threatened, it is harder for them to resist pressure to shape stories to satisfy governments or commercial interests, it (is) harder for them to carry out investigative journalism and harder to challenge management’s editorial line.”

The report also highlights trends toward the privatization of state media and additional emphasis on new media, the Press Gazette reported. The report polled 41 journalists’ organizations in 38 countries affiliated with the IFJ.

Source: The Press Gazette (through European Journalism Centre)