When you think stressful jobs most of us think of a soldier or Channel Nine wardrobe assistant. However, a new report says many of us working in media need to be thinking about the blood pressure tablets, too.
The US job website CareerCast.com (check out the study here) has unveiled its list of the 10 most stressful occupations for 2017 and it’s bad news for journalists, TV broadcasters and even PRs. Admittedly, it’s also not good news for the police, firefighters and those in the military either.
The site’s top 10 most stressful jobs for 2017 are (one being the most stressful):
10) Broadcaster
9) Taxi driver
8) Public relations executive
7) Senior corporate executive
6) Newspaper reporter
5) Event co-ordinator
4) Police officer
3) Airline pilot
2) Firefighter
1) Military personnel
According to CareerCast the list was compiled using a number of mitigating factors (like being shot and killed, as an example). For the media jobs, poor salaries, deadlines and lack of employment opportunities all figured highly in the stress count.
However, the report did note some people are attracted to high-stress jobs. For example, many people employed in the military or as police are attracted to the stress and the “hero” nature of the work.
When it came to PRs, the survey noted: “Such is the day-to-day experience of a senior-level public relations executive. Public relations executives function as the face of a public entity, whether it be a business; government institution; nonprofit; even a celebrity or athlete. Their services are most needed at times of crisis – ‘damage control’ is a popular term.”
While for journalists it said: “News gathering professions face new challenges, as well. Outlets are facing heightened skepticism, which may mean extra time for reporters to check facts while on deadline. In addition, some outlets actually pay writers based on the number of clicks their articles receive. Deadlines, the imminent potential of bodily harm and public scrutiny are just a few of the 11 factors considered when compiling our most stressful jobs report.”
Those 11 factors included:
• Travel
• Career Growth Potential
• Physical Demands
• Environmental Conditions
• Hazards Encountered
• Meeting the Public
• Competition
• Risk of Death or Grievous Injury
• Immediate Risk of Another’s Life
• Deadlines
• Working in the Public Eye
