Generation Z's Feminine Radio Journalist: The Future of Talk Radio

Abstract

This study explores the current and future state of Catalonia’s general-interest (non-local) radio landscape from the perspective of female journalists under the age of 30. It is an unexplored topic. Drawing on qualitative methodology, the research is based on 18 in-depth interviews with professionals working as reporters, editors, presenters, scriptwriters, and producers, at the six most influential radio stations in Catalonia, according to official Spanish audience surveys (EGM): RAC1, SER Catalunya, COPE, ONDA CERO, Catalunya Ràdio, and Ràdio 4. The findings reveal a precarious working conditions sector with increasing professional stress, attributed to the growing pressure to produce and adapt content for social media platforms. While the participants acknowledge the need for greater inclusivity and audiovisual integration in the future of radio, many express concern over a shift away from the traditional essence of the medium. Generation Z journalists argue that radio must maintain its identity as an accessible, intimate, and trusted source of information, positioning itself as a vital counterweight to misinformation. This research contributes to understanding how young women in journalism perceive the evolution of a medium in transition, and how they navigate the tensions between innovation and continuity in a rapidly changing media environment