Time-efficient and time-consuming practices among journalists in communicating with the sources

The aim of this study was to observe how journalists manage their time and what are the most time-consuming practices. Empirical data were gathered by using a non-participant observation in a national daily newsroom and two participant observations in a national daily and in a local newspaper newsroom in Estonia. There were two focus group meetings with journalists with less than five years of experience in May 2016 and in September 2016. Results show that journalists with less than five years of experience had trouble with managing their time; for example, they mainly contacted the source via e-mail, which led to stress-induced situations and the usage of questionable sources. Journalists with more than five years of experience had established routines and managed to divide time between different topics simultaneously. They were reluctant to use e-mails and relied mainly on traditional methods: calling or meeting the source.