News professionals express concerns over escalating burnout within news organizations

In the fast-paced world of journalism, burnout and work-related stress have become common challenges. A panel discussion organized by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) on July 29th, 2024, aimed to address these issues, with a focus on "Navigating Burnout: A Journalist's Guide to Staying Fresh in a Fast-Paced World."

The panel, led by Randy Picht, Executive Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, included C.D. Davidson-Heirs, Director of the Student News Watch and membership coordinator of the Education Writers Association, Nasseem Miller, Senior Health Editor for the Journalist's Resource, and Dave Seglins, Journalist and Well-Being Champion at CBC News.

Davidson-Heirs shared her personal experience with burnout, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic while working as a local reporter in Northwest Florida. She found herself covering two breaking news beats, and people were dying in both of them. The pressure and stress took a significant toll on her, leading her to take a break from journalism and the state of Florida.

Nasseem Miller emphasized the importance of prioritizing self-care as a tool to combat burnout. She highlighted the physical signs of stress, such as headaches or fatigue, as signals to take a break. Miller also recommended finding a burnout monitor to recognize signs of burnout and advised scheduling self-care activities regularly.

Miller found art to be a helpful tool for relaxation and focus. She also emphasized the importance of creating boundaries with work for personal health. Seglins, on the other hand, believes leadership should prioritize and support conversations about mental health and well-being in newsrooms. He advocated for newsrooms to be educated on mental health and well-being.

The Reynolds Journalism Institute conducted a study in late 2023 about burnout within newsrooms, with over 1000 future, current, and former journalists from 50 states participating. The study found that 80% of the respondents stated that they felt burnout was a critical issue.

In response to these findings, the Canadian Association of Journalists implemented a peer support program for journalists dealing with burnout and work-related stress in 2023. However, no specific study on burnout by an organization in 2023 was found in the search results.

Seglins, who has experienced burnout and PTSD in his career, developed an exercise to encourage discussions about stressors in journalism. He believes that open conversations about mental health and well-being can help combat burnout and create a healthier work environment for journalists.

Miller suggested movement as a useful tool for managing stress and emphasized the importance of checking in with oneself regularly. She highlighted the importance of prioritizing oneself as a journalist to maintain mental and physical health.

In conclusion, the panel discussion highlighted the importance of self-care, open conversations about mental health, and support systems for journalists dealing with burnout and work-related stress. By prioritizing self-care, creating supportive work environments, and fostering open conversations about mental health, the journalism industry can work towards reducing burnout and creating a healthier, more sustainable work environment for its members.

News professionals express concerns over escalating burnout within news organizations