The news industry has not been immune from the staffing challenges that have hit most industries in the last few years.
But before the pandemic, the news business already faced a more unique situation than most industries with a lot of factors that can make things more stressful, especially for young journalists. Here are some of the many challenges I’ve seen over the years.
Removal from social support systems
There are only so many newsrooms, so it’s routine for young journalists to move far from home to get their first (or second) job. Many move hundreds or thousands of miles for the chance to begin their careers.
This means many young adults are removed from everything they’ve known for their entire life, sometimes thrown into a completely different regional culture. They can’t meet up with old friends to talk about their new stressful jobs. They can’t call a relative when their car breaks down or they need a ride to the doctor. They can’t stop by mom’s for dinner.
Fortunately, most people who work in newsrooms are pretty supportive because they’re all in the same situation. All of the newsrooms I’ve worked in have doubled as a built-in support system.
Nights, weekends, holidays
Compounding the fact that young journalists may be far from home are challenging schedules that make it hard to get home for a visit. The news happens 24/7, so someone has to work nights, weekends, and holidays. For these shifts, there is often only one person covering a particular function who must be replaced if they are off.
Stations may make scheduling decisions based on seniority, or they may require that everyone work at least some of the holidays. If there’s a weekend vacancy, a person who normally works weekdays will have to fill in. It can be difficult to schedule a vacation because a certain number of people always need to be working.
Juggling the platforms
TV is no longer just video. Radio is no longer just audio. Print is no longer just long-form text and images. Digital platforms have given every media outlet the chance to be all things to all people. But it can be challenging for one person to be all things to all people.
Fortunately, media outlets are catching up with more staffing for digital platforms, but it can still be a challenge. A TV journalist not only has to prepare multiple reports for live newscasts, but also tell the story as it happens on multiple social media platforms and write a print-style article for the website.
Keeping up appearances
On-air TV journalists face intense criticism over their appearance. TV news people are sometimes accused of being vain, but viewers won’t pay any attention to what you’re saying if they’re distracted by a flyaway hair.
Every TV journalist has likely received an email from a viewer, sent to the entire newsroom, criticizing their appearance. Some viewers seem to think there is an entire department in the TV station managing each reporter’s wardrobe, hair, and makeup. (There is not, even at large stations.)
Besides the unneeded stress, maintaining appearances can be a costly problem for young reporters and anchors. Stations usually provide a clothing allowance and reimburse hair and makeup expenses but TV journalists still need to devote more of their income to clothing than people in other professions.
Public scrutiny and safety
Journalism is one of the most scrutinized professions, and it should be. We play an important role and must get it right.
But some of the pressure goes too far, especially in the past few years. Coverage of political news stories on social media predictably devolves into hate and vitriol. Political leaders urge crowds at rallies to boo the reporters covering the event. Newsrooms receive threatening phone calls and creepy letters. Field crews are now routinely advised that they are allowed to leave a situation if they don’t feel safe. Some have been robbed, or worse.
So the next time you watch a local TV newscast, read a newspaper article, or listen to a radio news update, I hope you’ll remember what the journalists went through as they prepared their reports!
Jon Ellis has worked in small-market TV news for 20 years in assistant news director and producer positions.
LINK: More Newsroom Notes