Black Journalists Matter: Predictors of Job Satisfaction in the Twenty-first Century

This study, rooted in critical and cultural scholarship, examines the predictors of job satisfaction among Black journalists, critically assessing what these predictors reveal about their workplace perceptions and experiences. Based on survey findings from a study of National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) members, we discovered that Black journalists' perceptions of race-based bias from their coworkers led to feelings of being under-rewarded in terms of equity. Specifically, their job satisfaction was tied to salary, newsroom innovation, racism experiences, financial investment in digital skills, and the filing or intent to file a report with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Findings have implications for the hiring, retaining, and promoting of Black journalists, as respondent comments indicate that industry emphasis on recruitment and demographics is an inadequate solution for creating an inclusive and equitable journalist workforce. In summary, hiring managers and decision-makers should assess whether Black journalists are satisfied with their jobs based on their perceptions and experiences.