Generation Z has already entered the workforce. The youngest generation, born between 1997 and 2012, is now expected to shake up the ways of the workplace. It is the first generation to not have known life without the internet and social media. It is also more racially and ethnically aware than any of the previous generations – something that is significantly impacting corporate policies.  

If we look at the Reuters Institute report on news consumption habits, Gen Z has already shown itself to be distinct from any other generation. It is far less likely to shell out money to read the news and it is a lot more inclined to get news from social media. While the older generation relies on Facebook, to some extent, to consume news, the younger one depends on TikTok. (The hashtag #GenZworkforce on TikTok is quite an insight into the new generation.)

It is fair to say that Gen Z is already changing the news landscape from the outside. The question now is how will it shape and change the newsrooms from the inside. As new talent enters, newsrooms need to be prepared. They need to be aware of the expectations of Gen Z and its way of operating. This is a generation that looks beyond salaries and personal growth and expects much more from its workplace. We look at three factors that define the work life of Gen Z and that newsrooms need to understand better.

Willingness to walk away 

My idea to write about Gen Z in the newsrooms emerged from a few TikTok videos. 

The underlying premise of all those videos was an argument that while millennials are stressed and make virtually impossible sacrifices for their jobs, Gen Z likes to define boundaries and walk away if uncomfortable situations arise. There is research that supports this argument. According to a report by the BBC, Gen Z wants the same things from a job as most of us: work-life balance, fair compensation, and work that aligns with our values and goals. The difference, however, is the fact that young people are willing to walk away if these needs and wants are not satisfied. It seems that the hustle culture does not align with this generation’s values. Seeing how burned out and stressed the older generations are, Gen Z is not ready to make the same sacrifices. 

Unfortunately, newsrooms can be quite demanding and can harbour stressful environments, taking a toll on the mental health and interpersonal communication of the employees. A better work environment is one of the first things to address in the newsroom and to make Gen Z stay.

Mental health is paramount 

In recent years, media companies have increasingly started looking at mental health as an important policy for employees. For instance, UK’s Channel 4 introduced meeting-free lunchtimes, well-being days, and mindful and resilience training among other things. Some state media organisations across the world have started providing counselling programs for employees too. 

Gen Z is the generation that worries the most about mental health and is not afraid to talk about it openly in the workplace. And there are a lot of reasons for that.

For one, people representing Gen Z have spent some of their formative years living through the coronavirus pandemic, which impacted their education, communication with peers and social media consumption. Many people in this generation have only witnessed remote work and hence, fewer opportunities to connect with colleagues.

Second, the climate crisis and uncertainty around the future of the planet have added to the stress and anxiety of this generation.

Third, as a study by the consulting firm Deloitte says, Gen Z seems to be trapped in the “vicious circle” where the concern over personal mental health has become a big driver of stress and anxiety. 

It is not surprising then that Gen Z values better mental health opportunities. Multiple studies show that Gen Z wants mental health days, counselling and an opportunity to discuss well-being with its employers. It also wants to feel secure when talking about mental health. Making the  workplace a safe space for such discussions is a must for newsrooms. 

A diverse set

Gen Z is growing up in a world that is more multicultural and diverse than ever before, as indicated in this research report. It also has access to a larger pool of information and perspectives and is more likely to interact with people from different backgrounds. Gen Z is conscious of global issues, understands privilege, and is likely to raise its voice for causes and social justice movements. 

Most importantly, Gen Z brings all of these views to the newsroom and expects the same from its employer (and other employees). A lack of diversity and representation in media is likely to discourage young people from pursuing journalism as a career. In an interview with the ResponseSource blog, one of Gen Z journalists called the industry “pale, male and stale”. This phenomenon is also evident from the recent wave of journalists experimenting with media independently, instead of joining traditional media companies. For instance, Marcus DiPaola, an American TikToker and freelance journalist became particularly famous covering the U.S. presidential elections with his TikTok account. Part of his success can be attributed to his understanding of how to reach a young audience. DiPaola calls himself “a translator from mainstream media to teenagers”. 

Awareness of the importance of diversity on the part of editors and management, however, can make  some Gen Z journalists change their minds. 

Additionally, all of this also impacts content production. Gen Z has grown up with the internet and hence, understands digital audiences. It is also far more comfortable with multimedia storytelling than the previous generations. With an advanced understanding of the workings of social media, what Gen Z produces (or will produce) might look different.

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