By Matthew Pearson
Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma and the Canadian Association of Journalists are launching a special series of online industry forums to tackle critical issues affecting the mental health and well-being of news professionals.
The series, titled Taking Care in News: 2024 industry Discussions on Well-being, will be open to journalists, editors, managers, educators and students. Registration is free.
Dave Seglins, Tracey Lindeman and Matthew Pearson on Parliament Hill.
A series of free online discussions will address five critical issues affecting the mental health and wellbeing of news professionals.
“2024 is a time for action. It is urgent newsrooms and industry leaders take concrete steps to better protect their people,” said Carleton University journalism professor Matthew Pearson, who is co-producing the events alongside journalist and mental health advocate Dave Seglins.
The pair are lead authors of Taking Care: A Report on Mental Health, Well-being and Trauma Among Canadian Media Workers, published in 2022.
“Our study revealed alarming levels of burnout, anxiety, depression and trauma exposure within our industry. It is time we band together to share solutions and to better protect the people who work in this tough, exciting industry,” Seglins said.
The series of industry talks and expert Q&As kicks off Jan. 10 and will feature guest speakers who are making changes in their own workplaces and newsrooms. The goal is to share best practices and lessons to improve mental health and psychological safety across the industry.
The series will consist of five events:
- J-SCHOOLS OR NEWSROOMS: WHO SHOULD TEACH TRAUMA AWARENESS?
Wednesday, January 10, Noon-1 PM (ET)
Ravindra Mohabeer, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), School of Journalism
Sally Haney, Mount Royal U/ J-Schools Canada
Laurie Few, TVO
Moderator: Matthew Pearson, Carleton University
- WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES: MANAGING DIFFICULT STORIES
Wednesday, January 17, Noon-1 PM (ET)
Maria Salazar Ferro, New York Times / ACOS Alliance
Pu Ying Huang, Texas Tribune, Photo/Video Editor
Cheryl McKenzie, APTN, Director of News & Current Affairs
Dave Seglins, CBC, Journalist & Well-being Champion
- COLLEAGUES HELPING COLLEAGUES: BUILDING SUPPORTIVE NEWSROOMS
Wednesday, January 24, 9-10 AM (ET)
Natalie Graham, BBC, Presenter/ Peer Support Coordinator
Eden Fineday, IndigiNews, Publisher
Harry Key, psychotherapist, CiC Well-being (UK)
Dave Seglins, CBC, Internal Peer Support Coordinator
- MANAGING UPS AND DOWNS OF THE FREELANCE/TEMP ROLLERCOASTER
Wednesday, January 31, Noon-1 PM (ET)
Tayo Bero
Amber Bracken
Leyland Cecco
Tracey Lindeman
- FOSTERING INCLUSION + WELL-BEING
Wednesday, February 7, Noon-1 PM (ET)
Yamri Taddese (CBC)
Denise Balkissoon (The Narwhal)
Sujata Berry (CBC)
Pacinthe Mattar (Freelance journalist and 2023 Asper Fellow in Media, University of Western Ontario)
Wesley Lowery (Executive Director of Investigative Reporting Workshop, American University)
How fostering inclusion and belonging support employee and newsroom well-being. The potential, the challenges and the solutions from a range of industry perspectives.
These virtual events are open to colleagues around the globe and will be recorded and shared for those who can’t attend.
The Taking Care In News discussion series builds on the 2022 national study of mental health among media workers in Canada, which documented high rates of trauma exposure, anxiety, depression and burnout. Since that report, the researchers have held a national roundtable with 50 industry leaders in Canada and launched working groups examining key issues.
Key findings of the Taking Care Report:
- +80% respondents report burnout from trauma exposure
- 28% report anxiety diagnosis by a doctor (Canadian average is 2.6%)
- 21% report depression diagnosis by a doctor (Canadian average is 4.7%)
- 50% report job satisfaction is good or excellent
- Only 25% report well-being is good or excellent
- 57% report daily grind is difficult to manage
- 59% of women / 42% of men have sought medical help for work-related issues
- 90% report no trauma training in j-school
- 85% report no trauma training at work
Thursday, January 18, 2024 in General, Journalism News, News
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