News Directors Say They are More Burned Out
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News Directors say they are more burned out now than a year ago.
The RTDNA did a study, finding that more than two-thirds (68.9%) of all TV news directors say staff burnout is worse now than it was one year ago.
The RTDNA says the percentage was a bit lower in top 25 markets (at 59.4%), but all other market sizes were in the two-thirds range or higher, peaking in the smallest markets at 77.3%. Stations in both the Northeast and the Midwest were near 75%, but both the South and West were in the mid-60s.
Almost nine out of ten news directors (88.8%) say they’re trying to do something about it, and their tactics vary. Some are making substantive changes to salaries and schedules, and others are offering more mental health resources to staff. Others still have taken more creative approaches to boost staff morale: a fun committee, gym memberships, cake, pizza, staff potlucks and midday nature walks.
There is some good news to come out of the study. The survey shows that total (full-time) local TV news employment is up 5.1% from last year — to 27,600.
