Thriving in Journalism: A Survey of Support Systems’ Impact on Job Satisfaction and Well-Being

Journalists rely on a patchwork of support from organizational, institutional, and interpersonal sources, about which the academic literature has growing evidence. Building on this literature, this study seeks to provide such an overview, while also asking how well these patchwork supports function. A nationally representative survey of 633 U.S. reporters finds that trust in management and a supportive workplace culture are most important for journalists’ job satisfaction; work–life balance and support from family and friends are most important for journalists’ overall well-being. Income was a strong predictor of both job satisfaction and well-being. Overall, results point to the important role of editors as creators of workplace culture and front-line caregivers, suggesting a need for management training.