Measured against the number of years journalists work for their employers, Austrian journalists enjoy high and growing job security. 41 per cent of all journalists work for more than 15 years at the same media company. In 2008, this share was substantially lower at 21 per cent (Kaltenbrunner et al. 2008: 145; Kaltenbrunner et al., 2020: 251). Another 36 per cent were employed by the same media company for five to ten years. Freelance journalism in the news field is not a widely common practice.
Journalistic jobs are safe also with respect to their professional convictions. The Media Act contains a clause of conscience protecting journalists from writing against their convictions (Mediengesetz, 2021: para. 2). Furthermore, the Journalists’ Act includes special privileges and financial compensation for journalists in case of dismissal or termination of contract related to changes in ownership or the political orientation of the medium (Journalistengesetz, 2021: para. 8 & 11). In addition, there are several collective agreements for journalists.
However, the chair of the journalists’ union pointed to the fact that more and more journalists of advanced age were retiring early, some on request (or “invitation”) by their employers. The obvious reason is the considerably higher cost of experienced journalists compared with beginners. The union’s chair argues that cost increasingly becomes more important than experience.
