A survey (N = 715) examined organizational and life issues that affect overall job satisfaction of daily newspaper journalists. The Herzberg motivational-hygiene theory is used to examine motivational (perceived organizational support, social support) and hygiene factors (work–family conflict, role overload, job demands) that affect overall job satisfaction. Results indicate that perceived organizational support and social support create satisfaction, and work–family conflict, role overload, and job demands influence dissatisfaction. In addition, 25.7% of journalists in this study said they intend to leave newspaper journalism. Open-ended responses indicated that the primary reasons for leaving include industry issues/job satisfaction. In essence, the tangential elements that tend to wear on journalists—deadlines, long hours, clashes between work and family—appear to take their toll and create dissatisfaction but are not driving journalists from the workforce. Primarily, journalists intending to leave the profession are frustrated with fundamental issues that comprise an enjoyable work environment—support and encouragement.
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Scott Reinardy (2009) studied this question.