What News Does to You

Originally posted Dec. 23, 2005

A good thing I received in the mail today from the S.F. Psychoanalytic Institute and Society:

"The Bearer of Bad News: How Journalists' Jobs Affect Their Mental Health"

By Mark I. Levy, M.D.

The nature of a newsroom is similar to a hospital's emergency room. Faced with life and death issues on a daily basis, staff members are deadline-driven and, consequently, their adrenaline levels are high. Few audience members realize that it is a population under stress that brings the news into their homes each day.

Reporters are confronted by the distressing aspects of human experience and must provide their reports with a professional demeanor. Under sufficient stress, the practiced veneer of a reporter, cameraman, editor, anchor or news director can break down. For instance, when news professionals who are also parents are obliged to report a disturbing event that involves children, they may have a difficult time distancing themselves from the story. Instead, the reporter may find himself identifying with the young victim's family, and the injury or anger that surrounds the situation may cloud the questions he asks. We saw this identification issue reach a peak during the 9/11 reporting. On-air anchors were vibrating with the same sense of anxiety the public was feeling, but they were not able to go home to the security and integrity of their families.

Serious journalists realize that they do not have control over many of their job assignments. The stories that are chosen for public consumption are driven by bottom-line concerns about ratings and circulation. Journalists may also feel the tension of striving to be balanced and ethical while succumbing to the pressure of corporate giants who have the final say.

Protect your mental health by following these tips for managing stress:

* Daily, give yourself the opportunity to relax in a quiet, safe environment, an oasis away from the deadlines and tension of your daily work.

* Whether it's a late-night dinner with co-workers or a cup of coffee with your editor before work begins, you can benefit greatly from collegial de-briefings. By talking about the common stresses of the newsroom with someone on the "inside," you can shed the pent-up anxiety created by on-the-job experiences that your friends and family outside the industry cannot fully appreciate.

* Recognize the pathological symptoms of anxiety: If you feel as if you are losing control, if thoughts about your work constantly intrude on your personal life, or if you experience panic attacks, now is the time to seek professional psychotherapeutic counseling.