Just wanted to come back around on this because
@ChrisMWilliams and Hassell discussed pay during the ESPN layoff segment of Monday's 2GNC (right around the 45 minute mark if you want to listen to it). They mentioned that someone who is new(er) in the media industry signed their first contract for $25k LESS than what one of their coworkers first contract a number of years ago.
Regardless of the last couple of years of inflation you are looking at decades of slowly rising inflation etc. with declining pay.