Local journalists enter the field motivated to serve communities and tell stories but struggle to forge a path for long-term career advancement that includes work-life balance and sustainable pay, according to a survey that asked more than 600 current and former local journalists about their careers.
Research on those who leave careers in journalism points to low wages, mental health struggles and feelings that there is not a future for the field as reasons for exit. The Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media found that local journalists are also grappling with high levels of burnout. That report found that the most common response when respondents were asked about what would keep them from leaving their current job was higher pay.
This report, based on a survey fielded by CISLM from Jan. 22, 2024 and Feb. 16, 2024, aimed to identify the reasons why people enter, then stay in or leave local journalism.
- Journalists working 31-40 hours per week show a higher retention rate (24%) in the profession compared to those leaving (14%).
- Better pay and work-life balance were major themes that emerged when respondents were asked what a sustainable career in local journalism would look like.
- Of those who left local journalism, 39% left local journalism for a job outside of journalism and 14% were either laid off, fired or took a buyout. The most popular fields for jobs outside of journalism were public relations, communications, marketing and higher education.
Further reporting
I shuttered my own news startup. Here’s what journalism should learn from my experience.
I’m sharing what worked – and what didn’t – in hopes that these lessons are carried forward to a more reflective, equitable future for journalism.