The results are in….
It’s been a tough couple of years for media in Aotearoa — closures, mass layoffs, restructures, and a constant sense of uncertainty. Now, the 2025 Aotearoa Media Wellbeing Survey has put numbers to what many in the industry have been feeling.
The survey, run by Media Chaplaincy NZ in May and June, brought together the voices of 195 people from 27 different organisations. It also marks 10 years of Media Chaplaincy NZ walking alongside media professionals.
What people have said…
The good news? Most respondents felt their employer was doing their best in a challenging environment — only 25% felt their wellbeing wasn’t adequately looked after.
When asked how employers could better support their teams, the first answer was better pay (no surprises there), but plenty of other suggestions cost little or nothing, such as:
Investing in training
Reducing overload
Building inclusive, supportive cultures
Recognising quality work
Regular check-ins, especially after tough assignments
MCNZ General Manager Elesha Gordon says the survey highlights ways to better support media workers’ mental and emotional health.
“Media organisations are doing their best in a tough environment of shrinking budgets, stretched teams, and rising workloads,” Gordon says.
“Better pay was the top request, but many suggested low-cost or long-term solutions – like training, reducing overload, and building supportive cultures. Even simple steps, like recognising good work or regular check-ins after tough assignments, can lift morale.'“
The survey also found trauma support lacking: two-thirds of those experiencing distressing events received no formal help, often due to lack of awareness or faith in its value.
Why chaplaincy exists:
That’s where Media Chaplaincy NZ comes in.
Our chaplains understand the unique pressures of working in media — the highs, the lows, the deadlines, the public scrutiny. We’re here to listen, confidentially and without judgement.
One survey participant shared:
“Speaking to a media chaplain was so valuable because they really understood what I was going through: the incredible highs and lows of my work, the deep passion and call to my work alongside the stress and demands of the industry. To be heard and understood in that way was a wonderful gift.”
Another said:
“Journalism is a weird field that most people won’t understand, but Media Chaplaincy gets it.”
As our founder and lead chaplain, Frank Ritchie, puts it: “Yes, there’s good news: many in media still find deep purpose and joy in their work. This is a passionate industry, full of people who care deeply about what they do. But that can’t come at the expense of their wellbeing – the job shouldn’t be wringing people dry.”
In the last financial year, Media Chaplaincy recorded more than 900 interactions with people in media. We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen. Whether it’s over coffee, in the middle of a breaking story, or weeks after something hard, our chaplains are ready to walk alongside you.
Because you don’t have to do this alone.
