O Rolo Compressor do Jornalismo: Retratos de uma Profissão em Esforço

Rita Araújo

doi:10.21814/uminho.ed.208

O Rolo Compressor do Jornalismo: Retratos de uma Profissão em Esforço

Authors

Rita Araújo

Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7124-6057

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21814/uminho.ed.208

Keywords:

journalism, emotional labor, precarity, violence, harassment, interviews

Synopsis

Journalism has faced numerous challenges and transformations in recent decades, not only due to technological and digital developments, but also structural constraints within the media industry, which is currently characterised by increasing ownership concentration and a visible collapse of business models. The deterioration of working conditions, precarity and violence against journalists may contribute to emotional strain, affecting their physical and mental health, as well as their well-being and quality of life, but also the quality of journalism itself. Although many of these dimensions stem from structural problems within the media industry, such as declining sales and advertising revenue, contextual factors further exacerbate the situation. The COVID-19 pandemic was one such moment, and several surveys of journalists already pointed to a growing deterioration in the conditions under which journalism was practised (Araújo et al., 2023; Camponez et al., 2020). However, no data were available to examine journalists’ emotional strain and its relationship with the dimensions outlined here. This study aimed to understand Portuguese journalists’ perceptions of emotional strain in their daily practice, its causes and consequences, and the existence of support strategies. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 journalists from various media organisations.
The findings reveal a concerning reality that should prompt societal reflection. Precarious journalists are not free journalists, just as journalists who fear for their safety are not free either.

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Author Biography

Rita Araújo, Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

Rita Araújo é investigadora auxiliar no Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade da Universidade do Minho, onde se doutorou em Ciências da Comunicação. É co-coordenadora do Barómetro para a Qualidade da Informação e coordenadora do Grupo de Investigação em Média e Jornalismo. Rita é vice-chair da secção de Health Communication da European Communication Research and Education Association e editora associada do European Journal of Health Communication. Foi professora auxiliar na Universidade Lusíada – Norte e no Instituto Politécnico de Bragança. Foi investigadora visitante no New York City Food Policy Centre, CUNY School of Public Health – Hunter College, e foi investigadora do projeto europeu HeaRT – Health Reporting Training Project, financiado pela Comissão Europeia, e do projeto A Doença em Notícia, financiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. É membro de várias associações científicas, como a Associação Portuguesa de Ciências da Comunicação, a European Communication Research and Education Association e a International Communication Association, participando regularmente nos seus encontros. Desenvolve investigação nas áreas do jornalismo, jornalismo de saúde, comunicação de saúde, fontes de informação, e literacia em saúde.

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