Battling burnout in journalism: an industry that doesn't love you back
- Vicky
- Apr 3
- 5 min read
I’m a reporter, journalist and producer for the biggest broadcaster in the world. It sounds impressive but what is it really like to work in a high pressured competitive cut throat news environment whilst being an ambitious workaholic who experiences imposter syndrome? I’ve worked in daily news, reacting to breaking news stories whilst running on pure adrenaline, as well as lengthy complicated legal investigations which can consume your mind for months, both are exhausting in their own way. But even more so, when faced with unstable future prospects and a whole queue of people ready to replace you.
Changes in the industry
The media industry has dramatically shifted in the last 5 years, with job cuts being announced regularly across both the journalism and radio industry. At times, it can be hard to maintain some optimism for the future. With the rise in people listening to podcasts according to OFCOMs latest statistics, this shifts the industry, creating a tangible knock on effect on staff numbers, with many who have experience working in radio, making the transition to podcasts, but it is a competitive market. It is no surprise that many people I know have chosen to continue journalism almost as if a “side hobby” with more journalists taking on other part time work to support their income or even pivoting their careers away from media altogether, to careers with a better working life balance, better stability, better pay and better positions, moving to areas like academia, public relations, property and teaching.
But what is it like for those who stay? What is the mental health like of those who don’t have a permanent contract but jump from short term contract to the next unstable job opportunity, narrowly dodging unemployment each time? Or who relentlessly pitch ideas on email to not get a reply back? How does it affect their confidence and their work?
As someone who’s never been on a permanent contract in the media industry, I have never felt the stability and security that kind of life offers. Those who jump from fixed term contract to the next, are on a hamster wheel of applications and have the continuous lingering fear of: where to next? With every unsuccessful job interview and with every rejected email, although I pick up my weary soul each time from the process, as if a phoenix rising from the ashes of resentment, I lose a piece of my heart for the industry.
“It’s not heart surgery”
With less jobs opportunities available coupled with less opportunities for work to be commissioned, alongside less stability but still pressure on wages, the combination of these factors can be a tense mix. For anyone working in the already competitive industry, the stakes are much higher. Will your idea top the podcast charts? Can your story gather millions of views? The nature of the work as a journalist is built on the importance of factually correct information, accuracy and attention to detail but what if human error pops up? What are the consequences for someone who can be easily replaced?
I was once told by a commercial radio presenter, “Vicky, it’s not heart surgery”. I understand at the time he was trying to calm my nerves and imposter syndrome, that it doesn’t matter if there is a 10 second delay to press play on the next song, or if you have to fade out a song early to get to the news on time. They are only minor moments that won’t have catastrophic consequences – but since that conversation, the station was bought out by a major competitor and although not heart surgery, I have experienced the importance of every line and every word to be factually correct in programming, and believe me, it feels as stressful as a complex operation.
Above and beyond
With the pool of opportunities smaller, the stakes higher and the competition fiercer than ever before, it might come as no surprise that journalists will go to greater lengths to advance their career. I’m not talking about anything as scandalous as something that could end up on the plot of your favourite daytime TV show, no, I’m talking about the lengths that journalists will go to with the level and amount of work they put in, sacrificing other aspects of their life and to their own detriment. I spend my evenings applying for jobs, updating my website and creating content for my social media platforms. I’ve missed evening Spanish classes because of feeling exhausted from being on the road for work, too tired to attend gym classes or too busy stuck in the cycle of applications to watch the latest TV. Slowly but surely, the extra work I take on, the uncertainty about where I’ll be working in a few months’ time and the continuous pressure of having to perform well so I remain in the job, takes its toll.
The impact of long term stress, causes you to be distressed. And so, my old friend burn out, rears its ugly head.
My old friend, burn out
The feeling of burnout starts at first as if an intruder in the night, creeping into your house, tiptoeing around your belongings, trying to avoid too much of a disturbance, but it ends with your entire life turned upside down. At first, the skipping of lunch breaks to catch up or staying an hour late here or there to hit a deadline doesn’t make a difference, but the compounding extra work that you put in just to pitch more stories to other outlets, to apply for jobs or to advance your career slowly starts to take its toll.
The weariness sets in, followed by the headaches, the muscle aches, the exhaustion, and then the anxiety, the catastrophizing and finally, the overthinking. Was that email too informal? Why did I put so much chilli in my carrot soup? Am I even good enough to be here? The alarm goes off in the morning yet last night’s 12 hour sleep doesn’t make a dent on how exhausted you are, your stomach feels like an empty pit of hunger which can’t satisfy you, and you double up each tea you consume with two tea bags. You cling to the cups of caffeine as if it’s your antidote, your elixir to this zombie like slumber that you live your life. You’ll tell yourself to have a restful evening tonight and the next night and hopefully the symptoms will disappear… for a while. One thing I always try to do when I know I’m approaching the edge of burn out is sleep and eat as much as my body needs to feel functional again. When I speak with friends and family, they support me, reminding me that my health matters most and deadlines and applications, will have to wait.
I feel like much of my career I am constantly battling burn out – first with freelance life, now with fixed term contracts, only resting when absolutely necessary, treading across the fine line between both worlds carefully as I continue to apply for more work, pitch more ideas or push myself to advance my career. Its emotionally, mentally and physically draining and as another of my fixed term contracts is due to finish in a few months, I ask myself, is the industry the problem or am I the problem? Should I continue to pour my heart and my soul into an industry that doesn’t love me back?
