Just a quarter of young journalists from underrepresented communities say they are 'financially stable', finds poll
January 2022 - Media and PR
Just a quarter of young journalists from underrepresented communities say they are 'financially stable': A survey of young journalists from underrepresented communities has found that just a over a quarter (26%) would describe themselves as being 'financially stable' in the profession, a fall from 55% who said the same in the survey at the start of the pandemic.
The poll by inclusion and diversity charity, Creative Access, surveyed 250 young journalists, firstly in May 2020 at the start of the pandemic and then again in December 2021, to see how Covid-19 had shaped their attitudes.
The charity seeks to enable people from communities which are underrepresented in the creative industries to access careers, progress and reach leadership.
The survey polled its members from less well represented racial and economic backgrounds; 89% of whom were under 30 years-old, and half were between the ages of 21 and 25.
The research also found that mental health was the primary concern of these journalists, ahead of financial factors such as securing a permanent position (60%) or getting a salary increase (13%).
At the start of the pandemic, the polling found that financial incentives were the greatest priority, with 62% saying finding permanent employment was their ultimate goal, compared to just over half who prioritised mental health.
The research also found that for two-fifths of the young journalists polled, the pandemic had impacted their ability to save money, while around a quarter (26%) said it had made them feel less secure in their job.
Since the end of lockdown, almost six in 10 said that they have applied for a new job, with a quarter reporting they have already started a new role.
Josie Dobrin, Creative Access chief executive said of the findings: “Today’s research underlines how critical it is for organisations like ours to work with employer partners to ensure that people from underrepresented communities do not lose out on career access or progression as a result of the pandemic.”
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