The Hidden Cost of Delayed Salaries: Journalists Grapple with Mental Health and Financial Strain

Islamabad: Over 70% of journalists in Pakistan face delayed salaries, pushing many into severe financial and mental distress, according to a recent survey by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). In an industry built on truth-telling, media professionals themselves are now battling a silent crisis financial instability, psychological burnout, and ethical compromise caused by erratic and often missing wages.

The Daily Struggle Behind the News

Raja Adnan, Assignment Editor at Aik News, found himself on the brink of eviction after not being paid for months. “One month, my landlord handed me an eviction notice. The next, my children’s school refused them entry,” he shared. A father of five, Raja described skipping meals to save money for his daughter’s school fees. “It’s humiliating to explain to your kids why you can’t meet basic needs.”

Raja copes by taking occasional freelance translation work and borrowing money from friends, but the psychological toll is deep. “There’s shame, guilt, and hopelessness,” he said.

His case isn’t unique. A 2023 welfare report by the Digital Rights Foundation highlighted that over 60% of journalists suffer from anxiety linked to job insecurity, while only 8% have accessed professional mental health support.

Mahpara Zaman, a reporter at Bol News, echoed this anxiety. “Rent, utility bills, medical treatments everything is paused. You’re constantly in survival mode.” As a single woman supporting her elderly parents, Mahpara has had to delay her mother’s medications more than once. “Every day begins with anxiety. I can’t concentrate on reporting when I’m not sure how I’ll pay for groceries.”

To cope, Mahpara practices yoga and attends informal peer support circles, but professional help remains unaffordable. “Changing channels doesn’t solve anything. We move from one uncertain situation to another.”
Sheraz Hussain of Daily Mumtaz said he borrowed money just to keep coming to work. “When I wasn’t paid for two months, I couldn’t afford transport or reporting gear,” he said. “It’s emotionally degrading. You begin to question your worth.”

Sheraz tries to manage stress through long evening walks and listening to motivational podcasts. “It’s not enough, but it’s all I can do,” he added.

For young journalists like Aiman Zeb of TNN in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the struggle is even more intense. Living in a women’s hostel and supporting a sisters, Aiman said, “We live paycheck to paycheck. When that paycheck doesn’t come, we borrow, skip meals, or quietly drop out.” She hides her financial troubles from her family. “It’s isolating. Sometimes I wonder if this dream is worth it.”

Aiman has attended online counseling sessions provided by a local NGO. “It helped, but more support is needed especially free services tailored for journalists,” she said.

The Psychological Toll and What’s Being Done

According to Dr. Amir Baloch, a psychologist at PIMS Islamabad, journalists are increasingly showing signs of chronic stress, insomnia, and burnout. “Delayed salaries trigger a cascading effect financial instability leads to anxiety, which leads to physical health issues. Many can’t even afford therapy,” he said.

A survey conducted by the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) found that only 5% of affected journalists had sought psychiatric help, citing financial constraints and stigma. Those who did described long wait times, limited availability, and a lack of trauma-informed care.

Dr. Abdul Wahab Yousafzai, a psychiatrist at Al Shifa Hospital, warned of deeper dangers. “We’re seeing elevated blood pressure, panic attacks, and in extreme cases, suicidal ideation,” he noted.

Taimoor Ahmed, Acting Head at CEJ, said his organization is working to offer free counseling services. “We’re partnering with mental health professionals to provide tele-counseling and referral services,” he confirmed. CEJ is also collaborating with media unions to conduct stress management workshops.

Individual Land, a civil society organization focused on media development, is also running mental health support programs for journalists. Their program manager Mashoud Ahmad , revealed that since 2023, they’ve handled over 100 cases involving anxiety, depression, and trauma among media workers. “Journalists reach out in silence. Many fear professional repercussions or ridicule,” He said.

A Call for Accountability and Reform

Media owners remain largely unaccountable. A senior journalist requesting anonymity said, “We’re treated like disposable labor. There’s no dignity in begging for what you’ve earned.”

Nayyar Ali, Secretary General of the National Press Club Islamabad, noted that while legal mechanisms exist like PEMRA’s power to withhold ads from defaulting channels they are rarely enforced. “The Council of Complaints is toothless. There’s no real pressure on media houses.”

Taimoor Ahmed emphasized that this is not just an economic issue but a press freedom crisis. “When journalists are desperate, editorial independence is compromised. Delayed salaries indirectly push people toward unethical practices,” he said.

Afzal Butt, PFUJ President, called it a systemic failure. “This is a direct attack on labor rights and journalism itself. Media owners must adopt transparent payroll systems. If they won’t, the government must intervene.”
He stressed unity among media workers. “Every case of delayed salary must be documented and reported. PFUJ will pursue each one legally and publicly. We will not let this issue be buried.”

Conclusion

The suffering of journalists like Raja, Mahpara, and Aiman reflects a national crisis undermining journalism’s integrity. When those tasked with telling the truth are silenced by unpaid wages and mental exhaustion, it’s not just their livelihoods at stake it’s the public’s access to reliable, independent information.