Emily Crawford

“I felt like I had not developed any part of myself because all I did was work,” says Sunday Times climate Editor Jo Linehan.

For people who run the media, it is no surprise that trying to escape it can be difficult.  

Between dropping all tools to go cover an event to staying up all night trying to bag an interview, journalists do not have it easy with their work-life balance. Even those who ‘make it’ in the industry struggle to set these boundaries and give themselves a proper break from work.  

For a creative industry, needing to be available around the clock is somewhat of a necessity in order to get your ‘big break’.  

Jo Linehan, Climate Editor for the Sunday Times and freelancer, disclosed what the start of her career looked like as a junior editor.   

“I was the most junior person in the company. That meant being the first person there every morning and the last person to leave every night / I felt like I had not developed any part of myself because all I did was work,” said Jo Linehan.  

It is a common struggle with journalism students to be too easily available with work, as they are so eager to finally break that barrier in their career. As a journalism student myself; I know how much pressure can be put on our shoulders to try balance college and trying to freelance.  

When talking about going back to college and being a student, Linehan said, “When I was doing work; I didn’t think about college, and when I was doing college; I didn’t think about work”. 

“The kind of personality that journalism attracts is someone who is a bit of a workaholic, and is someone who is upset with finding out about certain things,” she said.  

As time goes on and the portfolio gets bigger, individuals can somewhat set boundaries in the workplace.  

In relation to this, Linehan stated, “I can manage my time quite well, but if an urgent story comes in Thursday morning; I’m going to have to work through the weekend. Same as when I’m on holiday – I still have to check my emails every morning.” 

Freelancers seem to carry the most stress with this lifestyle though, as their income is completely reliant on them producing ideas. 

“I just had to survive. I didn’t have any disposable income or any money to do anything extravagant,” she stated.  

Founders of papers can also find themselves struggling with that balance, as they dedicate most of their time to making sure the paper is running smoothly.  

Sam Tranum; Co-founder, Deputy Editor, and reporter for the Dublin Inquirer stated: “The actual time for reporting; the thing we just want to do is limited, and boundaries between work and non-work is non-existent”. 

Demand between the different areas of journalism varies as well, with Linehan saying, “Everyone who is a part of [the fashion] industry has to work extremely hard during the seasons,” and “things [in the climate sector] can go quiet for a while”. 

Flexibility and working hours can also vary, with Tranum saying, “The flexibility I have with the newspaper is very handy. It means that when things come up with my kids; like what happened today, I can be there,” which was said in relation to his kids feeling sick that day.   

Even though society runs on news, trying to take a break from this as a journalist is vital for that balance.  

“I think I’m just addicted. Whenever I try and stop, I just find myself magically back in it all,” joked Tranum; when asked about trying to take a break from the media.  

Whether it is turning off the television when the news comes on every night or deciding to read a novel instead of a newspaper, the negative topics on the news can affect one’s wellbeing overall if not balanced.  

Linehan said, “When you’re focused on an area like climate that has a lot of negative news; it can be very overwhelming. Make sure you have parts of your life that aren’t associated with the news. I like doing things that aren’t a big commitment, but also help work the creative side of my brain”. Linehan also shared that she enjoys things like barista courses or cocktail making classes in her spare time.  

She also stressed the importance of exercise and mindfulness, as they help to clear your head when writing pieces and coming up with ideas.  

From students, to editors, to founders; everyone working as a journalist will struggle with finding that balance with the media. Even if we’re “addicted” like Sam Tranum, or a “workaholic” like Jo Linehan, we all need to take a break from the fast-paced news every now and then.