Journalists and Their Struggle with Burnout

The life of a journalist can be quite taxing. In fact, more than half of the journalists in the U.S. gave serious thought to quitting their job this past year due to exhaustion or burnout. Many have already quit one of their journalism jobs before pursuing the next after a period of recovery, but some never come back into the field for fear of stress.

The level of burnout journalists are experiencing has added up to half as many journalists wanting to get back in once they do take a break. The potential loss of institutional knowledge is concerning if they all choose to leave. Although burnout is not new to the industry, its increasing severity has contributed to a broader crisis affecting the entire field.

The Negative Impact on Newsrooms

Journalists are under increasing pressure and face threats and harassment on the job, even in non-conflict situations. They also face ethical and moral dilemmas when covering sensitive and traumatic issues. This inevitably leads to their work being negatively affected, which changes the efficiency of the newsroom itself. Newsrooms are negatively impacted by common issues such as budget cuts and increasing distrust from consumers.

When experienced professionals leave the industry, that causes the newsroom to take a huge hit as well. That can start a domino effect that cascades across the entire system.Moreover, the shifting trust in journalism is affecting professionals and may be taking a toll on their mental well-being, potentially contributing to burnout. Despite these challenges, journalism professionals continue to be passionate about the importance of their work, unanimously agreeing that journalism is crucial for a functioning democracy.

Possible Solutions for Burnout

Research on burnout for journalists was conducted by the Reynolds Journalism Institute in partnership with the SmithGeiger Group. The study was undertaken between October and November 2023 and not only touched on the reasons for burnout within journalisms, but solutions as well.

One of the ideas the research proposed was a change in work hours and better flexibility options. Long hours in any industry can gradually drain energy and passion, but having the freedom to establish a better work-life balance can make a significant difference. Even just knowing they have the option to take time off when needed can greatly improve their peace of mind. Another way to help alleviate burnout is by adjusting the types of stories journalists cover, along with rebalancing their responsibilities and workloads.

Changes in newsroom culture can be of huge help too. Morale within the newsrooms is paramount and without a healthy work culture, journalists run the risk of forgetting what got them into the industry in the first place. Journalists would also be mentally healthier if they were able to have four-day work weeks. That fifth day can easily be the difference between being worn down over time and having a healthy lifestyle. That day gives the time for journalists to practice more self-care and be able to be in the industry for the long haul. This is a common practice in some countries outside of the U.S., but it is a work schedule that most parts of the Western world fail to adhere to. 

Lastly, hybrid shifts are welcomed by a majority of journalists. Even those that prefer going into the office as opposed to working from home benefit from the saved time from forgoing the commute to work a couple days out of the week. For some journalists, fully remote work is ideal and may be essential for them to have a healthy mind and body, depending on how that specific journalist operates. All in all, these findings provide valuable insights that all newsrooms, journalists, and educators can use.