There are many things journalists can brag about, Lekan Otufodunrin says, high-stress work level should not be one of them.
One of the most profound tweets I read from the just concluded International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy was:
The culture in newsrooms is and should be changing.
– “Care about your staff.”
– “Listen to your people.”
– “A high-stress level is nothing to be proud of.”
Word. @Zielina @zziomecka @cristianlupsa #ijf19 @journalismfest
I was particularly struck about the third line in the tweet on a high-stress level not being something journalists should be proud of.
For too long, the journalism culture has been that only those who have the capacity to withstand high-level stress can be journalists.
One must be able to work round the clock. Must be ready to produce content at any time called up, especially in these days of endless breaking news.
As long as the job gets done, it doesn’t matter if the journalist is stressed up and risk the health consequence of stress.
Unfortunately, many journalists brag about being able to work under very stressful conditions and have become used to the old working habits that are detrimental to their health.
Truth be told, as the tweet above puts it, it is nothing to be proud of. Medical breakdown is no respecter of any profession. While hard work according to Jeff Coriley, a world-renowned motivational speaker is a virtue, he adds that constant overwork is a liability.
While moments of intensity and occasional sacrifices are justifiable in the short-term in journalism as in other professions, Coriley rightly states bluntly that “ a work culture that demands a constant sacrifice of time away from family is toxic to the long-term success of both the enterprise and the individual.
“ Constant intensity starves the spirit and cancels the creativity and passion that led you to your profession,” Coriley stated.
If they plan their work schedule jobs well and media houses adopt best work practices, journalists don’t have to work as hard and late as they still do in the present digital age.
Why should some journalists be prevented from going on annual leave as it is the case in some media houses or work during leave on the excuse that there is no one to do their job. I also know some journalists who opt not to go on leave for reasons best known to them.
The work is not more important than the life of the journalist. No story, picture or any other content is worth dying for.
Journalists cannot continue demanding better working conditions for other professionals while they are constantly stressed out on the job.
If the culture of newsrooms must change from the ‘mad house’ it has always been, we must as the tweet above stated media managers need to care more about their staff, listen to them.
The individual journalist must also know when the job is driving him or her crazy and know when to apply the break. Stress kills!