From the Gallery to the Parliament: Journalists in the House of Representatives and Senate, 1901–2007

Abstract

In this article we examine the extent of career cross-over from journalism to politics in Australia using biographical data on the pre-parliamentary careers of federal politicians since 1901. We find that while journalists continue to be over-represented in Australia's national Parliament, there is evidence of a decline in the number making the career switch to politics. We argue that one explanation for this is the growing professionalisation of both vocations, and of journalism especially. Journalism education inculcates in graduates a strong sense of the media's Fourth Estate role, contributing to a professional identity that militates against taking up a political career. We also find that in recent decades, in spite of a small number of celebrated cases of journalists joining the ranks of the ALP, prior careers in journalism have been more prevalent among Coalition MPs. We argue that this reflects an ALP pre-selection system that has become less accommodating of all pre-parliamentary occupations other than trade union official and political staffer.