Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Escape a Burned-Out Editor's Depression?
Through various newspaper sales and staff reorganizations, I have a new editor who seems to be suffering from burnout. He has admitted several times that the only reason he's still doing his job is because of health insurance for a child. He frequently talks about the "death of the industry" and is just an extremely negative presence in the newsroom. He speed-edits and seems to do the bare minimum possible. He rarely gives feedback about anyone's work, and I get the feeling he really doesn't care as long as it's in by deadline. I feel that I would have the same work experience if I wrote my stories from a distant bureau (and I sit next to him).
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His mantra seems to be "we're all lucky to have a job," and he obviously dislikes his. It's like he wants to be a hermit in a cave somewhere but it doesn't pay as well (He ignores phone calls from readers because "they always want something" and wants to move all our workstations away from his so he can "be alone."). I've never met an editor who so dislikes being around other people.
On the plus side, he's not abusive or antagonistic, but every utterance he makes seems to indicate to me that he's depressed.
I've only been here a year, and it's been a roller coaster. How can I keep my morale up and my desire to work there when my supervisor so obviously hates his job?
Thanks,
Battling Burnout
Let's make sure this extinguished editor doesn't put out your fire.
He may well be battling depression and I think you, as a direct report, are not in the position to suggest he get help, so let's keep this focused on the work.
First, I would appeal to him as a fellow journalist: "Look, I know you're down on newspapering -- and you have your reasons -- but I'm not and I really need your help. I need you to teach me your best lessons. Please, I need you to punch up my writing, give me feedback on my reporting and teach me everything you can about journalism. Sure, things have changed a lot, but the bedrock principles you know are the things I need to learn. Pass what you know along to me."
If this appeal doesn't improve the editing, seek out mentors in your newsroom and the industry and start looking for a new editor. Top editors hate it when reporters "editor shop," so be careful. You also probably won't do yourself any favors by explaining what is wrong with your current editor. The top bosses already know.
Apply for positions that come open, even if they are lateral moves, that will get you working for someone better. Offer to work different shifts -- even ugly ones -- if they mean you will spend more of your time working for better editors.
Don't internalize what this editor is telling you. Burnout was not invented with publicly owned newspaper companies or new technologies. Those realities are speeding up the changes that can lead to certain kinds of burnout, but this is not a new phenomenon.
My guess is that this editor's burnout has a whole lot more to do with what's on the inside than with what's on the outside. Protect the fires that are in you.
Coming Wednesday: This reporter is struggling to make it on a small salary that largely supports her and her husband. She has a chance at a $70,000-a-year job outside of journalism, but she is worried that she would not enjoy the work and might not make it back into journalism.
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