Study examines journalistic stress in covering election

NEWS AND OPINION:

Here’s a new phenomenon to consider: “post-election season stress.”

This term comes to us from the University of Southern California’s Center for Health Journalism, which released on Wednesday a brief study titled “Reflecting on the Election’s Toll on Journalists.”

“Covering this election season was grueling for many reporters across the country, as they sought to balance reporting on the deluge of news while taking care of their own well-being amid threats and insults,” the study said.

“Several journalists pointed to a sense of exhaustion and frustration in trying to counter the waves of misinformation this election season,” it also said.

“What might help at this moment?“ the study later asked.

“One respondent suggested additional newsroom staff could help alleviate some of the burnout. Others pointed to the value of mental health days, therapy, meditation, and trusted colleagues to talk through it all,” the study said.

THE UFO PRESS

Subcommittees of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee held a joint hearing Wednesday on alleged government research of unidentified anomalous phenomena (what used to be called unidentified flying objects,” or UFOs).

It proved to be an intriguing two hours. Here are a few headlines which took flight in the aftermath of the well-attended event:

“What is Donald Trump’s position on UFOs?” (NewsNation.com); “UFO whistleblowers tell Congress ’we are not alone in the cosmos’” (Space.com); “UFO Hearing: Video shows ‘white orb’ coming out of the ocean off Kuwait” (Sky News); “US Congress hopes to ’pull back the curtain’ on UFOs in latest hearing” (USA Today); “Experts testify at UFO hearing in Congress” (NPR); and “UFO hearing: Ex-Pentagon official says government ’cabal’ is hiding ’the fact that we are not alone’” (Fox News).

‘DOGE’ POWER

Have you heard of DOGE? Here’s what you need to know.

“President Trump announced the formation of a new outside government entity named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, and dedicated to identifying wasteful spending and expunging it from federal agencies throughout the government,” notes an advisory released Wednesday by Rep. Jodey Arrington, Texas Republican.

“The DOGE’s first task will be to conduct a complete audit of the entire federal government,” said Mr. Arrington, House Budget Committee chairman.

“This country desperately needs bold leadership to restore fiscal sanity in our nation’s capital and reverse curse of a looming debt crisis. Thankfully, the American people are returning President Donald J. Trump to the Oval Office,” he said in a written statement.

“I’m thrilled by President Trump’s decision to appoint Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the desperately needed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and look forward to working with them to right-size the bloated bureaucracy and rein-in wasteful Washington spending,” he continued.

“It’s time to go to work and deliver on the mandate from the American people - with help from Elon and Vivek, I like our chances!” Mr. Arrington concluded, exclamation point and all.

THE REAL DEBT

In case you wondered, the national debt stands at $35,945,396,362,475.20, according to the latest official update released by the Treasury Department on Nov. 8.

‘INFLATION EMBERS’

Will the price of everything and anything come down and stay down? Well, maybe — as long as those pesky ‘”nflation embers” don’t land on the nation’s communal pocketbook.

“Price pressures have come down greatly over the last two years, but the lingering effects of higher rents just won’t go away. Why it matters: The rent effects will take time to roll off, and policymakers have confidence they can look past them, even with a slightly higher inflation reading,” a timely analysis from Axios said Wednesday.

“The big picture: The overall trajectory for inflation looks solid, and a third consecutive Fed rate cut looks more likely than not in mid-December. But the latest data contains reminders that inflationary embers remain from the 2021-2022 price surge. It sets up a complicated policy landscape for 2025, as Fed officials decide how much further rates should come down without risking a reignition of inflation,“ the analysis said.

“It is made more complex by an uncertain outlook for immigration and trade policy under President-elect Trump,” the analysis warned.

HEGSETH’S NEW MISSION

“Subject to U.S. Senate confirmation, Fox News Channel personality Pete Hegseth has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as defense secretary in his forthcoming administration,” according to a straightforward report released Wednesday by Talkers.com, an industry source focused on media coverage and talk radio.

“Hegseth is co-host of ’Fox & Friends Weekend’ and a decorated U.S. Army veteran who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012, has authored several books supportive of the MAGA philosophy, and has been involved in grassroots conservative political activism,” the report said.

“His selection has come as a surprise to Washington-watchers of all political stripes, and it is expected that his nomination will be met with a strong level of political resistance questioning his experience to take on and manage such an enormous responsibility. Regardless, his nomination illustrates the continuing growth and influence of talk show hosts in the modern-era political arena,” the Talkers report said.

POLL DU JOUR

• 67% of U.S. college professors say they feel less free than they did a year ago to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in their classes.

• 58% feel less free to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion issues.

• 47% feel less free to discuss national politics.

• 43% feel less free to discuss gender identity.

• 40% feel less free to discuss state and local politics.

• 37% feel less free to discuss immigration.

• 35% feel less free to discuss sexual orientation.

• 35% feel less free to discuss abortion.

• 31% feel less free to discuss gun control and gun rights.

• 24% feel less free to discuss vaccines.

• 21% feel less free to discuss contraception.

• 19% feel less free to discuss climate change.

• 6% feel less free to discuss other topics not mentioned in the poll.

• 11% feel less free to discuss none of the above topics.

SOURCE: An Inside Higher Education/Hanover Research survey of 1,100 faculty members at public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. conducted by email Sept. 16-Oct. 4 and released Wednesday.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.