Submission #140 to the Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers by the New Beats Project

Abstract

Australian journalists have a long history of organising in the pursuit of decent pay and working conditions in the belief that a strong workforce is the best guarantee of quality news that serves the public interest. This submission characterises two industry trends that are driving changing patterns of journalistic work in Australia. The two major changes in work threaten the future of journalism careers are 1) ongoing staff reductions at the major media companies in the context of digital industry restructuring, and 2) the rise of more flexible, if often precarious, types of journalistic employment. The digital transformation of journalism is accelerating as more large media companies experiment with automation and other innovations in news production. The next generation of journalists look set to access a broader range of interesting journalism-related work options. Yet, our research suggests few are likely to sustain a stable, well paid career working for major news companies. Employment insecurity in journalism puts quality news at risk. The significant occupational shrinkage over the past five years discussed in this submission should give all Australians pause for thought. There is clearly no going back to the way things were in the past. But it is also true that there is no journalism without journalists. We thank the Committee for the opportunity to explain our concern for the future of journalistic work and journalists, and put these important and pressing issues on the public record.