Journalists are increasingly 'stressed' and what is the advice?

(CLO) The journalism industry is struggling with funding shortages, layoffs, declining trust, and rapidly changing technology that is leaving journalists exhausted. So what is the solution for journalists to maintain a sustainable career in the digital age?

According to Muck Rack's 2024 State of Journalism report, the situation for journalists is dire. About a third of journalists expressed deep concern about lack of funding and a loss of faith in the industry. At the same time, a similar percentage said they had experienced layoffs or corporate mergers.

The workload also weighs heavily on journalists. More than two-thirds of those surveyed work more than 40 hours a week, while less than half of journalists earn more than $70,000 a year. By comparison, the salary needed to live comfortably in major U.S. cities, where many journalists live, is estimated at $96,500 a year.

The combination of work pressure, job insecurity, and low pay has left journalists facing serious stress and burnout. “Journalism is a stressful profession,” Andrew Mercier, editor-in-chief of Muck Rack, told the IJNet Crisis Reporting Forum. He said the majority of journalists surveyed rated their stress levels as high.

Journalists are facing many challenges. (Illustration photo)

Faced with this situation, Samanta do Carmo, CEO of the Brazilian Press Association, Ajor, together with Andrew Mercier discussed solutions to help journalists maintain and develop their careers in a challenging working environment.

And here is their advice:

The role of the manager

When newsrooms undergo personnel or organizational changes, journalists often feel anxious about the future of their jobs. Samanta do Carmo, an expert who helps newsroom managers, stressed the importance of communicating clearly to staff about these changes.

In Brazil, newsroom managers often face challenges such as lack of money and unstable working conditions. This makes it difficult for them to plan long-term and provide a stable working environment for reporters. Reporters also feel anxious because of job uncertainty and lack of clear direction.

Carmo said managers should share with employees the difficulties they are facing and work together to find solutions. They should also encourage employees to participate in the decision-making process.

One way to help journalists get through this difficult time is to give them small, quick tasks. This helps them feel accomplished and motivated. Additionally, keeping the needs of their readers in mind will help journalists produce quality, meaningful journalism.

Finally, it is important to have a clear plan for the newsroom. When journalists have a clear understanding of the overall goals and their roles, they will feel more confident and productive.

Ready to embrace new technologies

With the rapid development of social media and artificial intelligence, both speakers Mercier and Carmo advised journalists to be ready to embrace new technologies. Mercier said that journalists need to be proactive in learning and testing new tools to engage readers, because user preferences change so quickly.

Journalists need to be more creative to adapt to changes.

However, he also acknowledged that managing so many social media platforms at once is difficult, so instead of trying to be everywhere, journalists should focus on the platforms that are relevant to their audience.

Ms. do Carmo agrees that journalists need to be more creative to adapt to the changes. She suggests that journalists combine traditional ideas with new tools to create more engaging journalism.

Despite the challenges facing the journalism industry, both speakers believe that there are still many hardworking and dedicated journalists. They encouraged journalists to focus on the positive and continue to innovate to serve their readers.

Take advantage of online tools

For freelance journalists, managing their work and finding opportunities can be difficult. There are many online tools that can help. For example, the “Who Shared My Link?” tool helps journalists track how their stories are shared, while “Source of Sources” helps them connect with people who can provide information for their stories.

Mercier also launched a profile on Muck Rack, a tool that helps journalists create an online portfolio that automatically updates with the journalist's articles, making it easy to share with employers or clients.

Mercier and do Carmo encourage freelance journalists to be creative when building their portfolios. They can talk about the challenges they have overcome and the solutions they have found. This not only helps them make an impression on others, but also helps them hone their problem-solving skills.

Additionally, freelance journalists can also earn extra income by writing advertising articles for brands. However, they should choose brands that align with their values.

Finally, when working on platforms like Substack and YouTube, journalists should learn from those who have found success on these platforms.

Phan Anh (according to Muck Rack, Ijnet)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nha-bao-ngay-cang-cang-thang-va-nhung-loi-khuyen-la-gi-post329580.html