‘No time to think’: Overloaded journalists trim practices to save time

Abstract

Australian journalists suffer time poverty in under-resourced workplaces, with most indicating that they skip reporting practices to save time. This article argues that convergence of factors including the industry’s biggest workforce cut in history, global technological changes, economic losses during the 2012–20 period and unforeseen COVID-19 workforce stressors have caused chronic journalist time stresses, which in turn often undermine ethical practice. Study of 288 surveys and interviews of Australian journalists contributes a small body of valuable research on the commonality of time poverty experienced by professional journalists, and the tactics used by sufferers when there is not enough time to do all ideal work-time tasks. Analysis of collected qualitative data informs critical discussion of how time poverty can undermine journalism method. In conclusion, this article finds an overworked, underpaid and insufficiently resourced labour force remains an under-recognized legacy of journalism’s mass job-cuts era.