The Normalization of Burnout in the Media Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study of Work Stress, Mental Exhaustion, and Work-Life Disruption

Keshvi Priya Sinha; Ananya Awasthi; Manju Rani

The Normalization of Burnout in the Media Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study of Work Stress, Mental Exhaustion, and Work-Life Disruption

Author(s)	Keshvi Priya Sinha, Ananya Awasthi, Dr. Manju Rani
Country	India
Abstract	The media industry combines high informational demands, tight deadlines, unpredictable schedules, digital connectivity, exposure to disturbing events, and strong expectations of continuous availability. These conditions can create an organizational environment in which prolonged stress is interpreted as evidence of commitment rather than as a signal of impaired well-being. The present study examines the normalization of burnout-related experiences among media professionals and evaluates their perceived effects on mental exhaustion and social life. A descriptive cross-sectional survey of 40 media professionals was used. The available survey data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. The sample was concentrated among professionals with 0–5 years of experience (55%), and 55% of respondents were female. Long working hours were perceived as normal by 77.5% of respondents, while 95% reported experiencing mental exhaustion either always or sometimes. Work was reported to affect social life often by 57.5% and sometimes by 40% of respondents. Importantly, 95% agreed that the work culture of the media industry requires improvement. These findings are consistent with international evidence identifying workload, always-on connectivity, traumatic exposure, job insecurity, and limited organizational support as important occupational stressors in journalism and related media work. The paper integrates the findings with the Job Demands-Resources perspective and the literature on occupational burnout. The results suggest that burnout normalization should be understood as an organizational and cultural issue rather than solely as an individual stress-management problem. Recommendations are proposed for workload governance, mental-health support, trauma response, recovery time, managerial training, and protection of work-life boundaries.
Keywords	Media Industry, Burnout, Occupational Stress, Work-Life Balance, Mental Health, Journalists, Work Culture
Field	Sociology > Journalism / Media
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-25

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The Normalization of Burnout in the Media Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study of Work Stress, Mental Exhaustion, and Work-Life Disruption

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