Indicator 2: news workforce

Journalist numbers have steadily declined

17% drop in journalism employment

The number of journalists declined by 17% between 2011 and 2021, falling from 15,791 to 13,108. Despite a small rise between 2006 and 2011, the workforce has declined since.

The decline in journalist numbers between 2006 and 2021 was driven primarily by substantial losses in print journalism (down 54%, from 6,127 to 2,826) alongside a decline in radio journalists (down 21%, from 606 to 476).

Print journalism is shrinking, while ‘other’ roles make up a growing number and share of a smaller workforce

Drop in print journalism from 41% to 22%

Print journalism employment halved between 2006 and 2021. As the overall journalism workforce contracted, the mix of roles changed: ‘other’ journalist roles grew from 17% to 36% of the workforce. Although editors, radio and TV journalists held relatively steady as a proportion of the workforce, journalist numbers declined across most categories.

Journalists are concentrated in NSW and Vic, Tas and NT have lowest representation

69% of journalists are in NSW and Vic

In 2021, 44% of journalists worked in NSW and 25% in Victoria. The lowest representation was in Tasmania (2%) and the Northern Territory (0.5%).

Women make up more of the journalism workforce

42% men and 58% women

Women outnumber men in journalism, with 7,571 women and 5,537 men in 2021.

Representation of women in journalism increased between 2006 and 2021, rising from 54% to 58% of the workforce. This is above the average of all employed women (excluding journalists). 

See report glossary for definitions of ‘male’ and ‘female’.

Journalist incomes have shifted upward

Half earn $52k – $103k

In 2021, 50% of journalists earned $52k – $103k, while 23% earned $104k or more. Only 26% earned under $52k – down from 51% in 2006.

TV journalists were the most likely to earn $104k+, radio journalists were most likely to earn $52k – $103k, while print journalists were the most likely to earn under $52k.

Income differs for female and male journalists

Men more likely to earn $104k+ 

In 2021, nearly 30% of male journalists earned over $104k, compared with 18% of female journalists. Women were more likely to sit in the $52k–$103k band and also more likely to earn under $52k.

First Nations representation in journalism remains under 1%

0.9% of journalists identify as First Nations people 

Representation increased gradually from 0.27% in 2006, but First Nations people remain significantly under‑represented in journalism relative to their share of the population.

First Nations representation remains low across journalist roles

Most roles remain at 1%

From 2006 to 2021, representation remained low across all job types. TV and ‘other’ journalists rose to 1.5%, but radio saw a slight decline (1.1% → 1.0%) and print journalism stayed extremely low (0.1% → 0.3%). No journalist type approaches population parity.

First Nations people working in journalism are under‑represented across all states and territories

Highest in Qld (1.65%) 

In 2021, First Nations people working in journalism made up 0.91% of the profession nationally, compared with 3.22% of the population. Every state and territory shows under‑representation.

First Nations representation similar for male and female journalists 

Around 1% in each group

In 2021, 0.94% of female journalists and 0.85% of male journalists identified as First Nations, with only a slight difference between the 2 groups.

Most journalists continue to live in major cities

Around 80% live in major cities

Journalists remained overwhelmingly city‑based between 2006 and 2021. 

In 2021, 14% were in inner regional areas, 6% in outer regional areas, and 0.4% in remote or very remote Australia.

Most journalists were born in Australia

80% born in Australia 

The share of Australian‑born journalists increased slightly from 77% in 2006 to 80% in 2021, while the proportion born overseas declined to 20%. 

This is higher than both other professionals (63%) and the broader workforce (68%), with only small changes since 2006.

Education levels differ for male and female journalists

Women more likely to hold uni degrees (83% vs 72%)

In 2021, female journalists had higher rates of both bachelor (61%) and postgraduate qualifications (22%), while male journalists were twice as likely to have high school only education (19% vs 9%).

Language diversity among journalists has increased

Nearly 10% speak another language

The proportion rose from 6% in 2006 to 10% in 2021, a steady but modest increase in language diversity within the journalism workforce. 

However, this is much lower than the share among other professionals (26%) and all employed people (23%).