Headlines Network releases guide to burnout for journalists and newsrooms

Headlines Network has released a new guide for journalists and newsrooms to deal with burnout.

The mental health charity Mind defines burnout as a collection of experiences caused by long-term unmanageable workplace stress. In 2019, The World Health organisation also recognised burnout as a “workplace phenomenon”.

Journalists and editors are no strangers to the long-hours, unrelenting deadlines and multiple responsibilities that come with the territory. But burnout is not just caused by a heavy workload.

Burnout truly takes effect when our work and home lives bleed into each other - something many people experienced during the covid-19 pandemic and lockdown period.

People can experience burnout differently, but generally, those affected feel exhausted, overwhelmed or unmotivated. It can also cause a ripple effect and start to spread throughout the ranks of the organisation.

"Burnout means different things to different people," says Headlines Network co-director Hannah Storm.

"But to me, it feels like a piece of rope when people are pulling from each side, and you as the rope are feeling increasingly frayed."

The guide is co-authored by Mind and produced with support from the Google News Initiative. It also features contributions from top media professionals actively working in this space; Phil Chetwynd (Agence France-Presse), Kari Cobham (The 19th), Jonathan Levy and James Scurry (both Sky News) and freelance journalist Dhruti Shah.

It explores how burnout relates to journalists and journalism: the warning signs within ourselves and colleagues, opportunities for news leaders to step in and the requirements upon companies to act. UK employers have a "duty of care" to "reasonably support their employees’ health, safety and wellbeing".

A key suggestion is the need for professionals to be firmer with setting boundaries between work and home life.

Andrew Berrie, head of workplace wellbeing at Mind talks about an 'end of work ceremony', marking the end of a shift and the start of downtime. For others, a book for the commute home or a hobby outside of work could be effective boundaries to put in place.

"Particularly when I'm working freelance, I go on a commute which is a circular walk. That's a good way to bookend your working day just to signal you're downing tools," adds Headlines Network co-director John Crowley.

"Journalism is a high-pressure industry - we're not saying it shouldn't be, that's why we're attracted to it because it's fast-paced and dynamic - but that can take a toll."

The resource also provides lots of helpful terminology and signposting links.

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