The journalism industry is failing military veterans
Just one problem — nobody actually knows how bad the problem is.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau report “Those Who Served: America’s Veterans From World War II to the War on Terror“, 2020.
Source: Bridge the Divide research survey, 2024-25.
Methodology
Our study utilized a comprehensive approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to capture a holistic view of the issue. We surveyed a diverse group of participants, including veterans from various military backgrounds and newsroom decision-makers such as HR professionals, hiring managers and editors. Following the survey, we conducted targeted focus groups with both groups, encouraging deeper dialogue to contextualize the survey responses and uncover nuanced insights.
50% of our hiring manager participants have been in their positions for eight or more years
50% of our veteran participants have worked as journalists for 5-10 years
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Key Findings from Veterans
We found that the majority of veterans shared many of the same struggles as any new journalist starting their career. These struggles seemed to get worse the longer the veteran had served in the military before transitioning into journalism. And while many veterans are well-positioned to transition into journalism careers where teamwork and deadlines are critical, some found the cultural adjustments difficult to overcome.
According to our participants, the biggest challenge veterans faced when entering journalism careers was stereotyping. From being asked in interviews to “tell me something classified,” to attempts from coworkers to establish common ground by sharing that their crazy ex was also a Marine, vets in journalism have had to endure challenging workplace situations.
These stereotypes and assumptions not only came from coworkers who were accustomed to a different workplace culture than veterans were in the military, but also came from newsroom editors and management. In one case, a newsroom editor assumed that a veteran in their newsroom would have a plethora of contacts with other veterans contemplating suicide to help write a story on the subject. In multiple other cases, it was assumed that because a journalist served in the military that they would only cover the defense and military beat. In some cases, these issues pushed veterans to consider their transition a mistake and leave the journalism industry altogether.
40% of veterans interviewed are no longer working in the journalism industry.
Insights from Newsroom Professionals
The newsroom professionals in hiring positions that we spoke with were in positions ranging from hiring manager to deputy managing editor. The majority of participants were also veterans themselves, but some were not. The general consensus was that hiring managers do not understand veterans and as a result, many veterans don’t transition into newsrooms properly if they’re even hired at all. Others stated that the often initial low salary was a barrier to entry for some veterans who, in many cases, earned more in the military and would take a large pay cut in journalism.
Another trend that these professionals noted was the difficulty in advocating for oneself that veterans have. In the military culture it’s not normal to be an individual and have a “brand.” So in situations where highlighting yourself would be the right thing to do, veterans often step back into the shadows in order not to bring too much attention to themselves.
Many newsroom professionals also stated that veterans are much more “correctable” than their peers coming directly from journalism school into the newsrooms. Veterans are used to getting candid feedback from their supervisors and seldom take it personally. However, these strengths can also work against veterans sometimes, such as in the case of approaching superiors or “jumping the chain of command.” Some felt that veterans didn’t share their ideas or objections as much with newsroom leadership because it was unnatural to bypass their immediate supervisor and go directly to the decision maker to voice their opinion.
Recommendations for Bridging the Gap
Our findings suggest several pathways to address these challenges. For veterans, we recommend tailored mentorship programs and skills workshops that focus on journalism fundamentals. For newsrooms, we propose the development of veteran-specific recruitment initiatives and fostering a culture that values diverse professional backgrounds. By bridging these gaps, the journalism industry can not only benefit from veterans’ unique perspectives but also strengthen its commitment to inclusivity.
Conclusion
“Bridge the Divide” underscores the importance of collaboration between the veteran community and the journalism industry. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from both sides — veterans must be equipped with tools to enter and succeed in newsrooms, while the journalism industry must open its doors wider to embrace their talents. Together, we can ensure that veterans’ voices continue to contribute to the journalism industry.