Pay rises have staged a minor comeback in the media sector, with bonuses and commission payments returning as the recession eases
Data from the 2010/2011 Periodical Publishers Association Salary Survey, published by XpertHR, reveal that basic pay across the sector rose by an average of 2.6% in the 12 months to July 2010.

Last year’s report found that basic pay rises had slumped to 1.7%.

The recovery in bonus and commission payments was still more marked. This time last year, total earnings (basic pay plus bonuses and commission) had remained entirely unchanged over the previous 12 months. This year’s report shows a rise in total earnings of 6.4%.

Mark Crail, head of salary surveys at XpertHR, said: “Over the past year, publishers have seen their businesses in print and online begin a slow recovery from the worst of the recession. This has not been an easy time, but the evidence from this year’s salary survey shows that confidence is returning to the industry.”

The survey contains data on 5,908 employees in 15 publishing companies. It covers specialist editorial, sales and marketing roles as well as administrative and managerial staff, from trainee to company director level.