Good News for Local TV News as Salaries Rise

By Andrew Gauthier 

TVSpy

After seeing salaries drop in 2008, local TV news is rebounding as a new study shows that salaries rose across the industry in 2009.

The annual survey, conducted by Hofstra University in partnership with the RTDNA, reports that on average salaries rose 2.5% in local TV news. As the RTDNA put it, “the good news in broadcast news salaries in 2009 is that there isn’t bad news.”

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There were significant differences in how the salaries of specific positions changed in 2009. According to the study, reporters, managing editors, and art directors all saw a 10% salary increase in ’09 while the salaries of sports reporters dropped 10%. As the local TV industry works to rebound from a prolonged economic recession, the most important news of the study is that salaries aren’t changing drastically. While a 2.5% increase isn’t huge, the survey’s director Bob Papper points out, “With negative inflation in 2009, even flat salaries mean no loss in buying power.” More…

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