“…staff wellbeing wasn’t a consideration, and we were told many times that you had to be tough—and if you couldn’t handle the heat, get out, this industry is not for you.” 

These words echoed through the ABC headquarters in Sydney as renowned Australian media personality Jeremy Fernandez opened discussions on the panel, The People Behind the Journalism: Safety, Wellbeing, and Resilience, at the Global News Forum.

For someone who has spent enough years in the industry to see the changing of the guard regarding mental health issues among our media, it was fitting to hear from him that he, too, was not immune to these struggles in the past.

For Francis Toral, the Head of ABS-CBN Integrated News in the Philippines, she remains adamant that while journalism is a demanding field requiring physical, mental, and psychological toughness, a duty of care is non-negotiable.

“We do take care of our journalists because there is so much bashing and hostility on social media simply for doing our job… You must be tough, but there has to be a strong support system in the newsroom that ensures every single journalist pulls through.”

ABC Australia’s Head of International & Indigenous News, Suzanne Dredge, added that journalists need to maintain integrity and continue their vital work.

“However, we need to keep checking and changing our ways of thinking to keep them as safe as possible.”

A different perspective came from Bhutan. While a country of around 700,000 may not face high levels of physical hostility, that does not mean they enjoy peace in every sense of the word.

Dorji Tashi, Chief Executive of the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, explained that the unique culture in the mountains of Bhutan helps people find safety from physical intimidation. However, his core concern lies in navigating fast-evolving AI challenges, social media, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation—requiring leadership that guides the team in the right direction.

“I want them to do their job professionally and fairly… but we have a unique challenge as a population of around 700,000 where everyone knows each other so well. Covering hard stories becomes a real challenge.”

Fernandez concluded that the landscape is changing. His panel agreed that while journalists continue to work in an environment carrying more dangers than before, it is ultimately up to everyone to look out for one another.