Do journalists cope well with stress? If so, how do they do it? Those fascinating questions will be asked next week by neuroscientist Tara Swart at a London Press Club event.
She will ask for journalists to come forward to take part in a “rigorous and scientifically credible” study.
Newspaper journalists face intense pressure to meet deadlines while writing accurate, legally sound copy. So mental resilience is essential.
Aside from deadlines, there are other considerations: long working hours, relatively poor financial rewards and - in the case of broadcasting journalists - working in the public eye.
Dr Swart will give a short introduction to her project to London Press Club members on Wednesday (20 July) at the Corinthia Hotel, during which she will explain how the brain deals with stress.
Her hope is to collate data from journalists across the media industry. She is seeking to understand where the pressure points are, and to compare working in the different types of media.
Swart, a leadership coach, has some experience of dealing with media companies, having coached senior executives at the Financial Times, the Guardian and Sky.
Her usual clients tend to be chief executives and business leaders who face high levels of mental pressure. Evidently, there hasn’t been research done on what journalists tick.
To take part, application forms will go live on Swart’s website from 20 July. Applicants will need to fulfil certain criteria, such as not being pregnant and not having a pre-existing medical condition related to the brain.
The “subjects” can expect to receive an analysis of their personal data along plus recommendations from Swart.
