March 01, 2017
Low pay putting off Maori from media
A new survey has found the number of Maori journalists is on the increase, but there is still a way to go.
James Hollings, the head of Massey University’s journalism school, says the survey covered 24,000 journalists in 64 countries and uncovered a wealth of data about the profession.
About 7 or 8 percent of the New Zealand journalism workforce was Maori, compared with 5 percent the last time the a similar survey was taken.
Dr Hollings says that contrasts with the number of Maori lawyers and doctors now graduating.
"What‘s the answer? Maybe the fact journalism is still seen as an underpaid profession. That's what I'm hearing from high school teachers who teach journalism, who say young people might be keen but their parents steer them away from it, considering it's not an attractive profession which is a shame because we need journalists in our society to make it work and we need journalists who reflect our diversity as a country," he says.
The survey also found female journalists are paid 24 percent less than their male counterparts at similar levels of experience and responsibility.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH JAMES HOLLINGS
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