Eighty per cent of journalism students enter the profession to tell meaningful stories. Except 69% think they’re walking into a struggling industry that needs reinventing, and they’re not wrong.
Tickaroo’s Future of Journalism Survey—172 UK students and early-career journalists—lays bare what anyone who’s worked in newsrooms for the past decade already knows: the entry economics are brutal, the preparation is mismatched to reality, and the industry keeps talking about diversity whilst doing sod all about it.
Start with the money. 80% cite low wages and high living costs as barriers. 72% mention a lack of paid opportunities. When your entry route involves moving to London on minimum wage or worse, working for free, you’re selecting for people whose parents can subsidise them.
“Entry-level positions are competitive - fair enough. What isn’t fully appreciated is the financial cost of picking up your life and moving to London for a job that pays around minimum wage.”
This isn’t new. It’s bee…
