View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Mail on Sunday columnist Dr Ellie Cannon says ’24/7 culture’ of news affecting journalists’ mental health

By Arun Kakar

A “24/7 culture” of news is one of the main issues affecting journalists’ mental health, according to Mail on Sunday columnist Dr Ellie Cannon.

Dr Cannon, who also regularly features on Sky News, spoke at a London Press Club event about stress and mental health in the workplace on Monday.

In conversation with BBC news presenter Samantha Simmonds,  Dr Cannon emphasised how important it is to step back from the pressures of journalism.

She said work related stress could be so acute that she had had patients in her surgery believing that they were having a heart attack, when it was in fact anxiety brought about from workplace pressures.

Dr Cannon said exercise was one of the ways journalists can cope with stress.

She said the answer was not always to go off sick, but to deal with the problem itself, warning that taking time off could “result in greater stress building up about returning to work”.

In a panel with Sales Confidence founder James Ski and workplace well-being head at charity Mind, Faye McGuinness, leading figures were urged to speak out about their mental health problems.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Doing so would give “enormous confidence to others and would break down barriers and attitudes” the audience heard.

Upcoming London Press Club events include Do women have equal opportunities and pay in the media? chaired by columnist Anne McElvoy on Monday, February 19 from 6.30pm at Stationers Hall. Members of the London Press Club and the Society of Editors can attend for free,  guest tickets cost £5. Book tickets here.

This year’s Hugh Cudlipp lecture will be given by former Times editor and BBC news director James Harding from 6.30pm on 21 March. The event is free to attend. Book tickets here.

Dr. Cannon’s new book Is Your Job Making You Ill- How to Survive And Strive When It Happens To You is out now.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network