Pre-existing conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic : the factors driving female television journalists to leave the news industry
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Meeting name
Sponsors
Date
Journal Title
Format
Thesis
Subject
Abstract
This qualitative study investigates the voluntary turnover and job satisfaction of ten female former television journalists following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also examines the ways media organizations could change to retain current journalists. Using grounded theory and semi-structured interviews, 10 participants who worked at local television stations discussed the pandemic's effects on feelings of burnout and turnover. Integrating job satisfaction literature with Lee and Mitchell's unfolding theory of turnover and Herzberg motivation-hygiene theory, this study found that journalists left the field because of ongoing issues with management, professional and financial ceilings, news content, increasing job duties complicated by the additional layer of stress of the pandemic. These factors influenced turnover decisions among on-air women television journalists. The results of this study may provide employers and media organizations with ideas about how to retain women television journalists amidst the next significant crisis or "shock," whether it be another world health crisis, natural disaster, or a substantial shift in the industry. The findings indicate media organizations need to increase management training and oversight, improve pay and advancement opportunities, and implement simple safety protocols to retain on-air women talent.
Table of Contents
DOI
PubMed ID
Degree
M.A.