2 minute read
PERSPECTIVES
Remember to breathe
Janet Heard
When I started out as a cub reporter at The Star, there was an intimidating
mahogany row of mostly white, male editorial executives. Fortunately, today traditional newsroom floor hierarchies have been disrupted (and lately gone virtual) and there has been a sea change in diversity of senior editorial staff.
But we are not quite there yet. So here are some tips for those starting out.
In my experience, men still generally have a greater sense of entitlement than women, who need to work harder to be heard. Don’t be drowned out; speak up.
SUPPORT YOUR COLLEAGUES
When I started out, there was great camaraderie among reporters and photographers. Reach out and support each other, especially female colleagues who may have shared challenges about, for instance, tonedeaf race and gender issues, cyberbullying and other harassment. It is important to gain strength by talking about experiences and also to alert your line manager, who can hopefully offer guidance – if looped in. FIND A MENTOR
Navigating your way around a tricky story can be daunting. Pester experienced colleagues beyond your news editor, who is multitasking and time-short. Find a mentor and accompany them on stories to see how they conduct interviews, manage volatile conflict situations and ensure fair, factchecked reporting. Pick up tips by offering help with research for their investigative stories. I am grateful to old hands who taught me the power and skill of “Show, don’t tell”, and how to navigate the sensitivities and nuances of reporting. The press code is the gospel of journalism. Follow it, and do what is right and ethical.
And finally, remember to breathe.
Janet Heard is day managing editor at Daily Maverick.
Mental health in the newsroom
Arush from one breaking news bulletin to the next, staying on top of the news agenda and being constantly switched on – that’s just a glimpse of a day in the life of a journalist. The news cycle is a relentless, neverending one. The adrenaline rush keeps us moving when we are caught in the moment. However, the past 17 months Nosipho or so have
Mtshaulana highlighted the importance for us of hitting the PAUSE button and taking a step back. As journalists, we’ve been at the centre of the Covid-19 pandemic and reporting on the ever-evolving virus that has claimed the lives of millions of people around the world. It’s been tough and depressing. Most among us have experienced heightened anxiety, stress, depression and burnout.
It’s for this reason that it has become so important for newsrooms to prioritise the mental health of their editorial staff. We need a newsroom culture where people are free to speak out about their experiences, without fearing that it will affect their careers. While there’s a glimpse of hope, with various newsrooms implementing different programmes for their staff, there’s room for more to be done. After all, we need journalists who are mentally healthy and fully supported.
It’s also upon us to exercise self-care. The demands of the job are plenty, and it almost seems impossible to switch off. But we are of no use to anyone if we don’t put ourselves and our mental well-being first.
