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As pandemic restrictions ease, WAN-IFRA launched a survey to gauge what working arrangements publishers envision going forward, with executives from 72 newsrooms based in more than 30 countries participating in the survey.
Close to half of respondents opting for hybrid model
Some 52 percent of survey participants currently have a hybrid arrangement in place, while 25 percent have staff in the office full time. Some 22 percent of respondents say staff are still working from home full time.
In the short-term, the majority of those surveyed say the future involves a hybrid model, whereas some 12 percent say staff will continue to work from home compared to some 22 percent who would like staff to return to the office full time. As for longer term plans, 46.5 percent of respondents picture a hybrid newsroom. Some 28 percent see their staff in the office full time, 14 percent envision a full time work-from-home model, and seven percent remain undecided.
For one respondent, “hybrid is the future. We need to embrace it, not find excuses to escape from it.”
Another is also convinced the hybrid newsroom is here to stay, saying that “all of us will not work at the same place, together, ever again.”
Benefits and drawbacks of the hybrid newsroom
Some of the main benefits survey respondents associate with a hybrid working model are increased flexibility, efficiency, productivity, speed and a better work-life balance. However, it has also led to a loss of meaningful and spontaneous exchanges, bonding opportunities, and social interaction. Respondents say there is less transparency of performance, work ethic is no longer visible, and it’s proved necessary to develop new skills and introduce new KPIs.
Those in executive positions face the challenge of managing two work places at once, an endeavour that is harder to coordinate, and requires more effort to reach agreement. Newsrooms operating in a hybrid model also run the risk of silos developing and culture changing in an unwanted direction, according to respondents.
Staff numbers expected to increase
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on journalism, with many news organisations forced to lay off and furlough journalists or reduce their pay. Some 38 percent of survey respondents say their newsroom staffing levels have shrunk over the past two years. In 34 percent of cases they have stayed the same, and 26 percent of those surveyed reported growth.
Encouragingly, some 42 percent of respondents expect their staff numbers to grow in 2022. Some 32 percent say it will stay the same, and roughly 19 percent are unsure as to what is going to happen this year. Only 5.9 percent expect to reduce their workforce.
Supporting the mental well-being of staff
The pandemic years also saw news organisations introduce measures designed to help staff navigate the emotional impact of the pandemic, as the relentless 24-hour news cycle and the difficulties related to working from home took a toll on journalists’ mental health.
In April 2020, a WAN-IFRA survey of newsroom executives revealed that some 83 percent checked in with remote staff on a daily basis, while 38 percent had introduced guidelines for maintaining mental health, and some 35 percent gave staff access to a health hotline or resource.
In the current survey, some 35 percent of respondents say they have systems and policies in place to support the mental well-being of staff.