A Muck Rack report reveals that 50% of journalists considered quitting their jobs in 2025 due to burnout from chronic work-related exhaustion, while 38% reported a decline in their mental health. Today, female journalists face mounting pressures amid funding crises and global strain from ongoing wars and conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Against this backdrop, the inaugural session of “Journalists’ Talk” addressed burnout and its impact on female journalists. Hosted in collaboration with the “Women Who Won the War” network, the session featured occupational and mental health specialist Ahlam Belghaouia alongside several female peers. Hekma Msaddak, Digital Community Manager at “Women Who Won the War,” moderated the discussion.

The session provided a safe space for female journalists to speak freely and share their experiences within toxic work environments. Participants highlighted how these experiences impacted their lives and psychological well-being, turning continuous professional pressure into a compounding burden.

In addition to hearing first-hand accounts from peers, specialist Ahlam Belghaouia introduced practical techniques to mitigate burnout and shared insights on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She also conceptualized psychological burnout, distinguishing it from daily professional stress, temporary fatigue, and depression. Furthermore, Belghaouia outlined the key early psychological, behavioral, and physical warning signs, stressing the importance of addressing them before they escalate.

During the session, one journalist shared her personal journey, explaining how acknowledging the problem helped mitigate its impact. She emphasized that psychological recovery requires time and a supportive professional environment. This insight encouraged deeper participation from other attendees.

According to IJNet, journalists must have safe spaces to discuss and exchange views freely, away from high-pressure work environments. This is precisely what this session aimed to provide, and what we aspire to sustain in future editions of “Journalists’ Talk”.

This session is part of a monthly dialogue series organized by the “Women Who Won the War” platform. The initiative aims to foster in-depth discussions on the professional and humanitarian issues facing female journalists, while enhancing learning and mutual support to build safer, more sustainable work environments for women in media.