Agence France-Presse, one of the world’s leading news organizations, is confronting a growing mental health emergency among it’s staff, prompting a temporary closure of a staff area at its paris headquarters [[1]]. The crisis, which affects approximately 40 employees across multiple bureaus, underscores a wider trend of increasing psychological strain within the journalism industry [[2]], especially exacerbated by factors ranging from relentless news cycles to direct threats against journalists.An internal audit reveals longstanding issues with management practices are contributing to the situation, even as the agency has recently increased support resources in response to rising concerns.
Agence France-Presse (AFP), a leading international news agency, is grappling with a significant mental health crisis among its staff, with nearly 40 employees reportedly experiencing acute psychological distress. The situation has prompted the closure of a rooftop terrace at the agency’s Paris headquarters after concerns were raised about potential self-harm.
The crisis emerged following an internal labor inspection that revealed a sharp increase in employees seeking psychological support. According to a report cited by internal communications, inspectors were told that “three to five employees per month” were presenting in a state of significant psychological suffering, a figure that has doubled in recent months.
Inspectors learned that approximately 40 journalists, both in Paris and across regional offices, were affected, with many being in their fifties. Disturbingly, staff members reportedly identified the seventh-floor terrace of the Paris headquarters as a potential location for suicide attempts, leading management to temporarily close the space, even though it was a popular spot for smokers.
The issues stem from a combination of organizational disruptions and strained management practices, according to the report. Employees have described unresolved conflicts with superiors, inconsistent human resources assessments, abrupt changes to roles, and instances of being sidelined in a humiliating manner. Some returning expatriate journalists reported feeling lost and unsure of their future.
Several employees have alleged being placed under the supervision of individuals they previously managed, or being abruptly transferred after decades of experience. Others cited unexpected relocation requests to Paris after establishing lives in other parts of the country.
During a special meeting of the company’s social and economic committee on November 13, the head of human resources, Christine Briemel, acknowledged a period of “a certain laxity” before 2024. She stated that the agency has since increased training for managers and implemented support for dealing with post-traumatic stress, particularly for war correspondents and reporters returning from conflict zones. However, she conceded that feedback mechanisms were not always effective and that “a build-up of resentment” had taken hold among some staff.
In response to the alarming situation, AFP’s president-director general, Fabrice Fries, sent a message to managers on November 14, urging them to be “particularly vigilant” towards their teams and colleagues. He reminded them to immediately report any signs of distress or tension that could indicate a risk to an employee’s safety.
The agency has reiterated its commitment to providing internal psychological support and distributed information outlining available resources to its 2,400 employees. Initial reports of critical cases began surfacing as early as February.
An external firm, Sextant Expertise, was commissioned following a vote by the social and economic committee and has already completed approximately 60% of planned individual interviews. The firm delivered a preliminary report to management and is expected to finalize its audit by the end of December, focusing on departments identified as being at higher risk. The development highlights the growing pressures faced by journalists working in challenging environments and the importance of prioritizing mental health support within news organizations.
