The naturalization of moral harassment in digital journalism

Abstract

This article analyzes the incidence of moral harassment in digital journalism newsrooms with a 24-hour news cycle. Based on semi-structured interviews with 15 journalists who have worked in Brazilian news media located in the State of São Paulo, the study discusses how the speed-up of the news cycle has adverse consequences on journalists’ health. 12 out of 15 respondents reported having been victims of moral harassment in the organizations whose they worked. This research shows that the shortening of the news cycle favors the naturalization of the harassment on newsrooms – often rationalized by the very reporters as a side effect of the 24-hour news cycle. For this reason, the importance of investigating restructurings in the journalistic market is also reinforced by its impacts on the work conditions and journalists’ health.