diplomatic international journalist – Serbia
Emma Thomasson, a former Reuters journalist, after experiencing burnout at work, decided to help other journalists to preserve their mental health. For years, as an advocate of empathic leadership, she believes in creating work environments that inspire creativity, curiosity and meaningful interpersonal relationships.
After 27 successful years at Reuters, Emma has moved into a new phase of her career, focusing on supporting organizations, executives and entrepreneurs, especially in the media area. With her experience in coaching and consulting, she works to transform workplaces, helping teams unlock their full potential and supporting businesses to become more resilient and innovative. Emma Thomason gave an exclusive interview to the rEUconnecting portal about her experience and current work.
Journalist: „Did your personal experience with burnout inspire you to focus on mental health and resilience in your work?“
Emma Thomasson: „Yes, my own recovery from burnout about 10 years ago inspired me to get involved in the pioneering peer support network at Reuters and that experience encouraged me to train as a coach and then eventually to leave Reuters and dedicate myself to helping other newsrooms improve leadership and resilience.“
Journalist: „How did your journey through burnout shape your perspective on supporting others?“
Emma Thomasson: „At Reuters, I was lucky to have support to find a therapist. Many journalists don’t have the luxury of the support of a big organisation, or they live in countries where therapy is either unavailable or very expensive. That is why I am a big believer in peer support networks and colleagues helping colleagues, like at the Helpline I am part of for journalists in Germany.
My experience also influenced my perspective because I feel a lot of support for journalists is focused on the mental health impact of the content of the job itself, such as online harassment or covering conflict, crime or other distressing topics. That wasn’t the case for me. My burnout was probably partly due to many years of never switching off, but it was more the result of trying to combine motherhood with a high-pressure career, and moving my family around the world. I also feel strongly about the problems journalists often encounter in terms of poor management, conflict and even bullying in the newsroom. That is why it is so important that media organisations invest in leadership training and coaching.“
Journalist: „Could you share more about the coaching programs you offer? What are the key areas you focus on?„
Emma Thomasson: „I mostly offer packages of coaching to senior leaders of media organisations, usually over several months. These are some of the most common issues that we focus on:
- how to motivate a team and give feedback
- how to resolve conflicts in the team
- difficulty handling cultural, gender, generation differences
- navigating constant upheaval and rapid industry change
- juggling too many tasks at once, struggles with time management
- perfectionism, micromanagment
I also have a small private practice where I coach individuals usually on more personal topics such as career transitions, creating a vision for the future and improving assertiveness.“
Journalilst: „Do you find that people become more aware of their obsession with negative news after engaging with your programs, or are they already conscious of it when they seek your help?“
Emma Thomasson: „I think most journalists are in denial about their negativity bias – in fact they often fiercely defend it as a sign of critical thinking, falling for the “cynical genius illusion” – the idea that cynics are inherently more intelligent and anybody who promotes more constructive or solutions-oriented stories must be hopelessly naïve, and not a proper journalist. I must admit this sometimes makes me reluctant to promote a more hopeful outlook as I feel immediate scepticism from many journalists. I find they are more open to the idea that their critical natures can be problematic for their own mental health as they are so tough on themselves. It is also an issue for journalists who become editorial managers and are often more focused on giving negative rather than positive feedback to their teams.“
Journalist: „What strategies do you recommend for breaking free from the cycle of negativity?“
Emma Thomasson: „The first thing is to recognise that it is a problem and that it can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. There is a lot of neuroscience behind the power of hope. If you can’t imagine a better future, how can you work towards making it a reality?“
Journalist: „What do you believe is the most effective way to help others build resilience and manage stress?“
Emma Thomasson: „The first thing to say is that most journalists are fundamentally very resilient, but we are often our own worst enemies. The fact that our jobs are a vocation means that we are very bad at setting boundaries and our digital addictions have only made that worse. But reminding ourselves of the values that drove us to become journalists can help us cope.
My top 3 tips for managing stress are: spend time outside, preferably in nature; do whatever gives you joy and don’t feel guilty about it, whether it is sport, dancing, art, singing or cooking. Third, build a support network of friends and colleagues who listen to each other and laugh together.“
Journalist: „How do you incorporate leadership and inclusion into your coaching and consulting work?“
Emma Thomasson: „I mostly consult with newsroom leaders, and I often coach senior women, so the topic of inclusion and how to show up as a woman leader often comes up. I believe leaders need to be role models for healthy workplaces, both in terms of how they create boundaries and show vulnerability. That can also be a bonus for inclusion as managers can only get the best out of diverse teams when people feel safe to show up as themselves, admit mistakes and learn from them, and to disagree constructively.“
Journalist: „Would you recommend to journalists to change the topic they are working on from time to time to avoid mental stress because of the bad news?“
Emma Thomasson: „Yes, since leaving Reuters three years ago, I spend less time reading news about politics and focus more on science, culture and business, with am emphasis on people working to make the world a better place. I believe journalists need to change topics not just because of their own mental stress but for their readers. Our industry faces an increasing challenge of news avoidance and audiences say they want more stories that are inspiring rather than depressing.“
Emma Thomasson specializes in consulting, coaching, and moderation. She helps organizations and executives improve leadership, business strategies, and organizational culture. She organizes workshops on leadership, communication, and stress management, as well as coaching sessions tailored to the individual needs of leaders in the media, corporate, and non-governmental sectors. She is also active as a speaker, moderator, and panelist at conferences and events focused on leadership, innovation, and the future of work. Detailed information about her work is available on her official website.
