Financial Strain and Rising Stress Among Journalists as Social Media Dominates Viewership
ANN News
In recent years, journalists around the world have been facing increasing stress, anxiety, and serious health challenges, including heart attacks, as financial pressure in the media industry continues to grow. Once seen as a stable and respected profession, journalism today is struggling to stay afloat amid shrinking revenues and shifting viewer habits.
Traditional media houses, especially television networks and newspapers, are battling to maintain financial stability as audiences turn in large numbers to social media for news and entertainment. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have changed the entire news landscape, drawing huge viewership that once belonged to mainstream media.
A senior journalist told ANN News, “Due to the rise of social media, even leading media houses are facing serious financial difficulties. Television channels are losing viewership rapidly, while independent creators and online influencers are gaining huge audiences and advertising revenue. This shift has changed the entire media economy.”
The result has been severe pressure on working journalists. Many are now expected to handle multiple tasks — reporting, shooting, editing, and promoting their stories online — often without additional pay or support. This added stress has led to widespread burnout across newsrooms.
Several recent incidents have highlighted the toll this pressure is taking. Journalists collapsing during work or suffering from heart attacks have become alarmingly common, underscoring the urgent need for better mental health support and fair financial treatment in the industry.
While digital media has made information more accessible, it has also exposed the vulnerability of traditional journalism. The challenge ahead is clear: to protect the credibility of news and the health of those who bring it, even as the world moves deeper into the digital age.
