Taking Care in News: 2024 industry discussions on well-being

The Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, the Canadian Association of Journalists and the Carleton University School of Journalism 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.

The series of industry talks and expert Q&As kicks off in January 2024 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
Priya Ramanujam, Toronto Star
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)
How fostering inclusion and belonging support employee and newsroom well-being. The potential, the challenges and the solutions from a range of industry perspectives. Speakers to be confirmed.

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 our 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, we’ve 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

The Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma is a charity dedicated to the physical safety and psychological well-being of journalists, their audiences and those on whom they report.