Journalists are working harder than ever, taking on multiple roles amid shrinking newsrooms, unstable contracts, and declining print revenue.
As a student journalist who recently began working in a newsroom environment, I have come to realise just how much weight comes with the byline. I used to think journalism was mainly about writing a good story, chasing quotes, and meeting deadlines. But now, being in the thick of it, I see that journalism is so much more; it is a full-body commitment to truth, community, and craft.
What has struck me the most is the sheer amount of work it takes to keep society informed. Behind every headline is a journalist juggling multiple roles – writer, editor, researcher, sometimes even photographer and videographer.
Newsrooms are shrinking, and the expectation is that one person should do the work of three.
According to an article by The Boca Raton Tribune, a major reason for this is the decline in print advertising revenue, which has long been a lifeline for newspapers. With less advertising money coming in, media houses struggle to sustain operations and staff.
This financial pressure trickles down to the newsroom, where fewer people are doing more, often for salaries that do not match the workload or the importance of the job.
From the conversations I have had with practicing journalists, it has become clear that job security in this field is fragile. Most of them are on year-long contracts that get renewed annually – but renewal is not guaranteed. That means one can lose their job at any time, and finding another one is not easy.
This is not just a South African issue. Across the world, finding and keeping a reporting job has become a real challenge. As Mary Paronyan highlighted, the problem is not the quality of journalists, but the job market itself.
Being a journalist is a role that carries great responsibility, but also great uncertainty. Still, the calling remains.
Journalism continues to be a lifeline for communities, a check on power, and a mirror to society. Even with its many challenges, this work matters. And as I learn to navigate it all, I carry that truth with me: journalism may not always reward one financially, but its impact is priceless.
FEATURED IMAGE: Nthabiseng Baloyi. Photo: File/Paul Botes
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela: EDITORIAL: Can print journalism thrive in the digital age?, August 2024.
- Wits Vuvuzela: SLICE: Journalism is my future, but it is in crisis, April 2024.
- Wits Vuvuzela: Lack of funding hampers investigative journalism, October 2018.
