Local TV Newsroom Investment

Over all, salaries rose across the board, although not everyone shared equally in the increases. The news director emerged as the CEO of the newsroom not only in influence but also of pay.

Newsroom salaries in 2004 increased 3.6% over 2003. That was a smaller increase than the previous year (10%), but represented a second straight year of increases. In 2004, for example, news managers saw their salaries rise 4.8% while other off-air positions received pay increases of 6.6%.

Over time, however, TV news managers (News Producers, Executive Producers, Managing Editors and Assistant News Directors) have seen a much greater increase in real wages than anyone else in their shops. Using the RTNDA data to compare median salaries, the average on-air positions have seen an increase of about 26% in salaries over the past 10 years (1994 to 2004). That group includes news anchors, weathercasters and sports anchors. On the other hand, the increase among management positions was nearly double that, at about 45%.6

Among News Directors, the difference is even more pronounced. They have seen a median salary jump of 60% in the past 10 years, the most substantial increase of all. That clearly reflects the premium that managers now command. News directors now earn on average 30% more than the average anchor. In the age of multiple newscasts, though, there are now many more anchors than just the main evening anchor. The term “anchor” no longer refers to just that marquee figure, who may still have a higher salary than the news director.

Median TV News Salary Comparisons Over Time

1994 - 2004

Source: RTNDA/BSU Salary Survey, June 2005

To a lesser extent, what has happened to the salaries of news directors is also happening to other behind-the-scenes people. Over the past decade, the percentage of wage increases for off-air jobs was significantly higher for every newsroom job category surveyed.

Another interesting point is the rise in the position of the internet specialist. The job was nonexistent or negligible enough not to be measured 10 years ago, but now earns a salary almost as high as an average sports anchor. One reason may be that these positions are more likely to exist in larger markets.