Chances of getting a job as a radio or television journalist are limited.

Growing opportunities for television presenters, but getting a job still difficult

Opportunities for television journalists to work on news, sport and documentary programmes have grown recently due to the introduction of Freeview digital television in May 2007. The extra channel means more shows featuring New Zealand-made content. In 2007, 10,784 hours of local television content were aired, up from 6,185 in 2000. Despite this, it is still reasonably difficult to get work as a television presenter.

Minimal growth in radio journalist opportunities

Growth in opportunities for radio journalists has been minimal. This is because radio listenership has been flat recently due to competition from other mediums such as MP3 players and the Internet. Employment in the radio services industry grew by only 1% between 2003 and 2007, compared with 4% growth in the television services industry during the same period.

Strong competition for a small number of jobs

Competition for radio and television journalist jobs is intense, as the occupation area is small. According to the 2006 Census, only 387 people were employed as reporters (journalists) in the radio and television services industry.

Competition is particularly high for television journalist vacancies, and radio journalist positions at larger networks.

Entry-level radio journalist positions are easiest to get into at community, iwi or student radio stations.

Radio journalists may work for:

• radio networks such as National Radio, Radioworks or The Radio Network
• student, iwi or community radio stations.

Television journalists may work for:

• television networks such as Mediaworks, Sky or TVNZ
• television production companies such as Greenstone Pictures.

Regional opportunites for radio/television journalists differ depending on the medium.

The television industry is largely centred in the Auckland and Wellington regions, where the major television stations and studios are based.

The radio industry is more evenly spread around New Zealand, with Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury the most significant regions of employment. Wellington has a proportionally large number of people in the radio services industry, as Radio New Zealand is based there.

Main areas of employment for radio and television services workers in New Zealand,
by percentage of workers (2007)

Region	Radio services workers	Television services workers
Auckland	34%	81%
Wellington	22%	9%
Canterbury	10%	4%
Source: Department of Labour, Regional Industry Tool.