oa Het veranderende medialandschap en jobtevredenheid bij Vlaamse beroepsjournalisten

Job satisfaction of journalists in the changing media landscape

This study focuses on the job satisfaction of Flemish professional journalists. On the basis of a comparative survey research conducted in 2003 (N = 1026), 2008 (N = 682) and 2013 (N = 751), we identified shifts in job satisfaction and differences between subgroups in terms of gender, age, type of contract and job function. The concept of job satisfaction is operationalized using fourteen job intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are rated on a five point Likert scale. The results show that Flemish journalists adopt a fairly satisfied attitude towards their job. Journalists are concerned about job security, workload and promotion particularly after 2008, when the financial and economic crisis has also affected the Flemish media market (layoffs, concentration, etc.). The level of job satisfaction is related to the type of contract and the job function of journalists. There is also a clear gender component in the discussion: female journalists are not less satisfied with their job, but find it more difficult to combine it with a social and family life.