Scott Reinardy

Newspaper journalism in crisis: Burnout on the rise, eroding young journalists’ career commitment

The three-component Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey was implemented to examine burnout among newspaper journalists (N = 770). With a moderate rate of exhaustion, a high rate of cynicism and a moderate rate of professional efficacy, journalists demonstrate higher rates of burnout than presented in previous work. Additionally, journalists expressing intentions to leave the profession (n = 173) demonstrated high rates of exhaustion and cynicism, and moderate rates of professional efficacy, making them ‘at-risk’ for burnout. Also, 74.5 percent of journalists 34 and younger (n = 223) either expressed intentions to leave newspaper journalism or answered ‘don’t know’. The most ‘at-risk’ to burnout appear to be young copy editors or page designers working at small newspapers.

Female Journalists More Likely to Leave Newspapers

A survey of 715 U.S. newspaper journalists reveals women report higher levels of exhaustion and lower levels of professional efficacy than do men. Among women 27 and younger, 30 percent say they intend to leave the field.

Beyond Satisfaction: Journalists Doubt Career Intentions as Organizational Support Diminishes and Job Satisfaction Declines

A survey (N = 715) examined organizational and life issues that affect overall job satisfaction of daily newspaper journalists. The Herzberg motivational-hygiene theory is used to examine motivational (perceived organizational support, social support) and hygiene factors (work–family conflict, role overload, job demands) that affect overall job satisfaction. Results indicate that perceived organizational support and social support create satisfaction, and work–family conflict, role overload, and job demands influence dissatisfaction. In addition, 25.7% of journalists in this study said they intend to leave newspaper journalism. Open-ended responses indicated that the primary reasons for leaving include industry issues/job satisfaction. In essence, the tangential elements that tend to wear on journalists—deadlines, long hours, clashes between work and family—appear to take their toll and create dissatisfaction but are not driving journalists from the workforce. Primarily, journalists intending to leave the profession are frustrated with fundamental issues that comprise an enjoyable work environment—support and encouragement.

Need for speed onto Internet clashes with journalistic values

Interviews with U.S. newspaper journalists reveal that along with online initatives, newsroooms are experiencing organizational transformation. Young journalists are driving it and have adopted the online initiatives as older journalists continue to struggle.

Job Security, Satisfaction Influence Work Commitment

A nationwide survey of newspaper journalists found that coping control, perceptions of job quality and job security and organizational commitment are significant, positive predictors of job satisfaction.

Self-trained and selfmotivated: Newspaper photojournalists strive for quality during technological challenges

A study of newspaper photojournalists indicates the perception of personal responsibility to learn multimedia skills is related to a photojournalists perception of work quality, suggesting those who are dedicated to learning new skills also are dedicated to producing high-quality work. Survey results indicate little is being done proactively at newspapers to provide photojournalists with training in multimedia skills or to reduce uncertainty related to technological changes and industry decline. However, the results also indicate photojournalists identify strongly with organizations that give them the freedom to explore their own ways to reduce uncertainty, resulting in higher morale and organizational trust.

Journalism's Layoff Survivors Tap Resources to Remain Satisfied

Hobfolls (1989) conservation of resources theory contends that individuals work to gain and defend valued resources. During difficult times, workers will tap into reserves to ward off stress. This study examines job satisfaction among more than 2,000 newspaper layoff survivors and the resources of organizational trust, morale, perceived job quality, and organizational commitment. Results show that highly satisfied newspaper journalists have stockpiled the resources trust and morale (Hobfolls conditions valued by individuals), perceived job quality (mastery of a skill), and commitment to the organization (self-esteem). There is a clear division between those who have adequate resources and those who do not. Journalists who have accumulated trust, morale, perception of job quality, and organizational commitment appear to have adapted to the new environment and maintained some semblance of job satisfaction. Those with lower levels of job satisfaction subsequently are experiencing lower resource levels and indicated intentions to leave journalism.

Feast and famine? Local television news workers expand the offerings but say they are hungry for quality journalism

By the nature of the work, television news workers face a time famine: too much to do in too little time. The famine has been compounded in recent years as local newsrooms produce content for two-screen and three-screen audiences. Chaos theory says that even during chaotic times there are constants, such as deadlines and breaking news obligations. This study of 877 broadcast journalists examines their perceptions of work quality in light of organizational support, job satisfaction, work overload and autonomy. Results indicate that organizational support, job satisfaction and autonomy are significant, positive predictors of work quality. Additionally, 81% of news workers said they work differently from a few years ago, with social media/online obligations and doing-more-with-less consuming much of their time. In the meantime, diminished quality is a rising concern.

A Study of Burnout and Job Satisfaction among High School Journalism Advisers

Using the three-component Maslach Burnout Inventory (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment), results indicate that high school journalism advisers (N = 563) are not experiencing burnout on any level. Journalism advisers are not experiencing high levels of wear and tear from the job, they enjoy working closely with their students, and they feel a great deal of success and achievement in their work. Previous studies have found that journalism teachers are more satisfied with their jobs than other educators, and this study shows that they also experienced burnout to a lesser degree.

Autonomy and Perceptions of Work Quality: Drive the job satisfaction of TV news workers

Self-determination theory says intrinsic and extrinsic motivations influence our goal-oriented behavior and determine satisfaction. For TV news workers, those motivations include deadlines, breaking news, multiple-screen obligations, competition, and the desire to produce quality journalism each day. In this study of nearly 900 broadcasters, those with work autonomy and organizational support have a great deal of job satisfaction and say they are producing a high quality of journalism. Of the sample, 19 percent (N = 155) who said they intend to leave TV news within five years had significantly lower levels of job satisfaction, organizational support, autonomy, and perceptions of work quality. The primary reasons for leaving the industry include salary, family issues, and concerns about the quality journalism they are producing.