A frank conversation on newsroom burnout
The job of a journalist can be viewed as a double-edged sword. On one side, there is the passion behind following a story and reporting it to their readers. There is an adrenaline rush and satisfaction journalists feel when they shed light on an important issue. On the other side, there is the exhaustion and criticism. There are fast-paced deadlines and often unattainable expectations brought on by the 24/7 news cycle that all lead to burnout.
“Burnout can be very contagious, if I see it in myself and I have to fix it otherwise it will spread to my team,” saidLinda Shapley, managing editor at Colorado Politics.
In the CoLabNews panel on July 22, four panelists including Shapley, Denver MD Dr. Marc Moss, NPR’s director of Employee & Labor Relations and Investigations Selyn Hong, and Denver Post reporter and CU Boulder alumna Elizabeth Hernandez, had a candid conversation about newsroom burnout. This discussion explored the strenuous workload journalists are facing and provided ideas on how to fix a system that is no longer viable for the profession.
Over the past year, COVID-19 has highlighted the work of journalists, as they have found themselves on the front lines, having an unprecedented workload for current events and learning to cope with traumas the workplace exposed them to.
The panelists spoke about work-induced trauma, which often leads to anxiety and depression within the field.
“Burnout is an organizational thing and a culture thing, and we have to treat it that way,” Hernandez said. “It’s not a weak versus strong thing, it’s an organizational issue that must be addressed.”
So what’s the solution? The panelists agreed that leaders, such as editors and managers, must set a different tone, starting with empathy in order to change the tiresome newsroom culture.
One solution is leading by example. Managers must take time off of work and refrain from sending panicked emails at 11 p.m. Display the importance of taking a step back and prioritizing tasks instead of taking on everything at once, learn that your phone is an absolute killer, managers must limit how available they are in order to find that work life balance.
Empathy is crucial within the workplace. Managers must focus on the destrigmitazation of mental health and allow for an open and inclusive environment where people feel comfortable talking about how they truly feel. It is important to cultivate a peer-to-peer support system in an organization and normalize checking in with your coworkers. Because everyone copes with trauma and pain differently- it is only a part of the human condition- patience and communication is key.
Another attendee of the CoLabNews panel was Moe Clark, a housing and criminal justice reporter for Colorado Newsline and CU Boulder alumna. Clark reflected on the panel, speaking about the importance of her editors leading by example in the workplace and setting an appropriate pace while genuinely caring about her wellbeing.
Clark stressed the importance of boundaries. While reporting on the mass shooting that occured at the King Soopers in Boulder on March 22, 2021, she communicated her concerns and discomfort around covering the unfolding tragedy with her editor. Instead of providing front line coverage she chose to write an article focusing on mental health support, as she knew her limits and communicated that to her editor. For Clark, working for an organization that respects personal boundaries and cares for its employees well being is crucial to protect yourself as a journalist.
Finding balance can be difficult to achieve, yet leading with empathy and setting appropriate boundaries are the first two crucial steps to change newsroom burnout culture.
