My perceived “failure” as a journalist has haunted me as imposter syndrome in every job since then. I’ve often agonized over whether I was working hard enough. But my psychiatrist said something about work performance that I’ll paraphrase here: 75% is still a good effort, and most tasks can be done 10% more efficiently. You can’t give 100% all the time, especially if you’re burned out. Not every assignment will be award-winning. Sometimes, all you have the energy and time for is a VOSOT, and that’s okay.
The T in STORIES stands for Tune out the noise … the voice in your head calling you a failure, the stress at work. That static has reached a fever pitch.
I had the enormous privilege of being in a supportive newsroom, and I know this is not the case for everyone. I confided in my news director, who was also my former journalism professor and longtime mentor, as well as my general manager. I cried in both of their offices, and they were incredibly understanding.
You may feel uncomfortable asking for help at work (and you deserve better). But we’ll focus on three ways to make your job more manageable.
Planning:
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, but you’ll save time and energy if you plan ahead instead of scrambling for pitches every day. There are a few ways to do this, but use whatever method works for you to keep a schedule: a planner, Google Calendar, or an app. I kept a dated journal each year and color-coded everything down to my interviews and doctor’s appointments. I know you’re slammed, but take the time to look a week, even a month ahead. If this is your first job or you’re new to an area, it’ll take time to get your bearings, but eventually, you’ll have a constant flow of information. Think about what newsworthy events are coming up, such as council and school board meetings you can preview and follow up on or any national news you can localize. Join local Facebook groups to see what the community is talking about. Ask community leaders and newsroom veterans about any historical issues you can update. Talk to people in the field to walk away from most assignments with at
least one story idea.
Efficiency:
As an anchor/reporter with a beat in a county an hour away, I had to get creative to save time. I cut look-live nat sound packages, tracked audio on my camera, edited on a laptop in the field (public libraries make great bureaus), used my iPhone to shoot easy broll, and asked viewers for user-generated content. A good way to get news tips is to post a detailed how-to on your socials, encouraging viewers to send you pictures and videos (preferably in landscape) of whatever they think is newsworthy in their community. You can use this content as broll. If I worked in TV today, I’d also use a transcription service for my interviews and Canva to create graphics for information-heavy stories. Most journalists don’t have the privilege of working with a talented photographer. Focus on accuracy, and then add bells and whistles if you have time.
Tracking:
You need an archive of the stories you cover. By keeping tabs, not only will you always have news to follow up on, but you can document your progress. You’ll need it to negotiate your next promotion or to get a new job. You can do this in Google Docs & Sheets, with project management software or even an expando file. I literally printed out my articles and categorized them, but I wish I had created a digital system. Having an archive allowed me to zoom out, see different angles, and see recurring themes. It also made me a sort of subject matter expert in my coverage area.
I get that multitasking and wearing multiple hats is part of the job, but it’s depleting you. At first, a slower pace will probably make you feel guilty. But you’re not letting the team down like I thought I was. Overworking yourself is where mistakes are made, and emotions run high. I was a terror in the newsroom when I felt really stressed, and I wish I had been more organized. Don’t make your coworkers walk on eggshells around you.