What Creative Professionals Really Need: Insights From the Creative Reset Sector Survey
What does support really look like in the media industry right now - and what’s missing?
Over the past year, through coaching, workshops and dozens of conversations across film, TV and digital media, one theme has kept emerging: people are struggling quietly, carrying more than ever and receiving far less structural support than they need.
To understand this more clearly, Creative Reset conducted a sector-wide survey exploring how media professionals feel about wellbeing, workplace culture, development opportunities and burnout. The results reveal a sector full of talent, ambition and resilience - but also one stretched thin, under-recognised and in need of healthier, more reflective systems.
This article breaks down what we learned and why reflection must become a core part of workforce support in creative environments.
1. A Workforce That Feels Undersupported
When asked how supported they currently feel in their roles, 75% said they feel only ‘somewhat,’ ‘not very,’ or ‘not at all’ supported.
This matters. Support - through clear expectations, communication, coaching, mentoring or structured check-ins - is a key predictor of confidence, motivation and sustainable creative output. When support is inconsistent, people work in survival mode: reactive, overstretched and battling decision fatigue.
The media industry thrives on relationships, collaboration and communication. Without support, those foundations weaken.
2. Recognition Is Inconsistently Experienced
A striking 83% of respondents said they ‘sometimes’ feel valued, with only a small proportion feeling consistently recognised.
This lack of consistent validation has real consequences:
People question their abilities
Creative risks feel less safe
Engagement declines
Burnout accelerates
Recognition doesn’t mean praise for the sake of it. It’s about meaningful check-ins, acknowledging contributions and ensuring people feel seen - something many respondents say is currently missing.
3. Burnout Is Widespread — And Recent
Burnout isn’t a historic problem in the media industry - it’s happening now.
50% experienced burnout in the last year alone, with every respondent reporting burnout at some point in their career.
This is a clear indicator that current systems, workflows and expectations are unsustainable. Many described:
understaffed departments
unmanageable workloads
pressure to work beyond contracted hours
reduced safety practices due to budget cuts
poor management communication
lack of clarity or development pathways
Burnout is not an individual failure — it’s a systemic signal.
4. Despite the Need, Very Few Access Support
Although the challenges are significant, only:
16.7% accessed coaching or mentoring and
16.7% accessed wellbeing/mental health support
This gap highlights two issues:
Support isn’t easily accessible
People aren’t encouraged or given space to use it
Many shared that they want coaching, training or reflective spaces… but workloads, culture or lack of permission make it difficult.
5. What Media Professionals Say They Need
The open-ended responses were powerful and deeply consistent. Across different roles and backgrounds, people asked for:
🔹 More staff and realistic workloads
Overwork is embedded. People want sustainability.
🔹 Clearer development pathways
Lack of structure = lack of clarity = lack of confidence.
🔹 Access to mentoring, coaching and reflection time
People want skilled support to build resilience and navigate uncertainty.
🔹 Safer and more supportive working environments
Several respondents raised concerns about psychological and physical safety being deprioritised.
🔹 Better communication from leadership
Less micromanagement. More emotional intelligence. More trust.
🔹 Recognition and constructive feedback
People feel invisible. They want their work to matter.
6. Why Reflection Matters More Than Ever
Reflection might sound small, but the research makes it clear: people need structured space to pause.
Reflection is:
how we process overwhelm
how we identify patterns causing burnout
how we build confidence in our decisions
how we reconnect with purpose
how we create more supportive team cultures
Reflection isn’t passive - it’s a form of active support.
Creating reflective practices within organisations strengthens:
communication
problem-solving
psychological safety
staff retention
creative performance
In a sector built on ideas and innovation, reflection is one of the most powerful tools we have.
7. A Simple First Step for Teams: The “Reflection Reset”
Introducing a 15–20 minute weekly ritual can transform team culture:
What worked well this week?
What was challenging?
What support would help next?
Small practice. Big shifts.
Creative Reset offers workshops, coaching and team sessions that integrate reflective practices in simple, sustainable ways for busy, stretched creative teams.
Final Thought
The media industry is full of brilliant, resourceful, passionate people - but the structures around them need evolution.
The Creative Reset research shows that people don’t just need more skills or more resilience.
They need more support, more space and more reflection.
And with the right systems in place, sustainable creativity isn’t just possible - it’s inevitable.