Producer Burnout

(From The Schieffer School Of Journalism At Texas Christiann University -- By Angele Anderfuren)

About a fifth of local TV news producers in Texas at ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations are experiencing burnout or are at risk for burning out, according to a new research study.

Additionally, almost half of the producers surveyed scored high on EXHAUSTION and almost two-thirds of participating producers scored high on CYNICISM, both factors indicating potential future burnout problems for producers.

This study found producers who report feelings of burnout also reported unsatisfactory resources to effectively do their jobs, heavy workloads, and a desire to leave their jobs and/or their profession, among other factors.

Women producers were found to be feeling more burned out than their male counterparts. Sixty percent of the producers who scored as burned out, at high risk, or at some risk were women.

Younger producers were at highest risk for burnout.
No participating producers age 40 or over scored burned out or at risk of burning out.

Seventy percent of the producers in the burned out, at high risk, or at some risk categories were in the 20-29 age group. Thirty percent were in the 30-39 age group.

Producer burnout was determined using a device called the MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY (MBI). The MBI is a series of 16 questions designed to rate a test subject's scores in three key areas -- emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy.

Producer Burnout