(Vietnamese, Bangla, Thai and Hindi versions available below)
“First do no harm” is a basic principle in medicine, and of course in journalism too. For a journalist covering COVID-19, it should read: First do no harm – to yourself. Also, do no harm to others.
In war, conflict and disaster coverage, journalists – the eyes and ears of the world – often come in harm’s way and they and their editor or networks have to make tough decisions. The additional dimension with COVID-19 is that the contact journalists feel they need to make to report is dangerous, but the danger can be unseen. In war reporting, certain rules apply. In reporting COVID-19, we are busy redefining many of the rules of safe journalism, “first- do-no-harm” journalism. Because reporting COVID-19 is neither like reporting other disasters nor other epidemics. When reporting on a hurricane, most of the danger and impacts are clear and visible. Reporting on other viral infections, like HIV, poses no personal safety risk to a journalist and their follow-on contacts. COVID-19 is different and information about viral spread is evolving, so we need to pause to consider the following:
1. Essential services
In some countries, media and communications networks have been designated as “essential services”. This means – with permission or accreditation – journalists may move around, even if a country is in lockdown. This places the onus on media houses and individuals, like freelance journalists, to make essential decisions about safety. Some newsrooms operate on skeleton staff. Many journalists are able to follow the best safety advice and operate from home, but there are grey areas about studio production staff and broadcasting. We would like to crowdsource best practices and suggestions to ensure such staff are not placed in danger.
2. Demand for Personal Protective Equipment
Follow the evolving best-practice advice from credible sources (WHO/CDC) about the use of protective masks. In some places, masks are in short supply at hospitals and there have been government-led decisions not to supply these to journalists, saying these are essential items for first-line respondents and health staff.
3. A revolutionary way to gather news and information
From the science, we know that “social distancing” is the safest strategy for everyone to follow while a viral outbreak like COVID-19 is spreading actively through a town, city or country. Just as companies and individuals have been innovative in adapting to this reality, journalists have too.
Here some ideas to take these innovations further:
TV: Content is king
Don’t worry so much about pixels and picture quality. TV stations are collecting, vetting and broadcasting crowd-sourced cell phone videos to tell stories about isolation, new business practices, empty streets, etc.
Radio
Use and maximise phone-in formats and voice recordings of interviewees, your contacts.
Online production
Many of the practices are already familiar. Continue to tell the unfolding in credible and impactful ways, to keep your audience.
Invest in data and stable internet
And ask your editor or person who commissioned the story to support you in this.
Harness the best of social media
And make connections to make meaning for your audience. Social media is and can be a source for good. Explore credible, relevant sources and influencers on social media, and weave their comments into your stories – acknowledge the source. Newsgathering by distance can include Skype and Zoom-recorded interviews, WhatsApp voice or video calls, Facebook Watch Party, instead of traditional broadcasts.
Make thought connections
Working by distance and without physical contact presents a vital moment for journalists to exercise their creativity and bring to the fore their role as “meaning makers”, connecting thoughts, insights and analysis, making sense of incidents, making relevant comparisons and placing experiences and utterances into context for new insights. For this “connecting the dots” journalism, one does not need to be at an event or in the street. Your story need also not be dry or overly analytical. Interweave thought connections with remotely gathered interviews or photographs, for example:
Use only credible and known sources when remote sourcing, as described above.
Don’t deepen the digital divide while research suggests nearly 60% of the world’s population is already online (see https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-global-digital-overview), think of ways to not exclude those who need the information you produce. Partner with remote local radio stations or a communication network, for example, to get information to those who do not have smartphones and aren’t online.
Partner with citizen journalists and relevant CSOs and trusted advocates to exchange content, but also encourage them to practice safe news-gathering.
4. Stay digitally safe
Digital Security is another global concern which is under intensified threat, as opportunists (those after your data and passwords) are exploiting the heightened news interest and fears around COVID-19. This guidance from Committee to Protect Journalists highlights areas like how to secure your (new) remote office, how to communicate more securely and how to guard against the many phishing attempts. See: https://cpj.org/2020/04/cpj-safety-advisory-digital-security-covid19.php
5. Stay safe from crime
General insecurity is heightened through a number of uncertainties: global markets are under severe pressure and local markets might close. Small businesses are collapsing and very many people have become and will become unemployed. In many cases, security has been diverted from where it is usually needed so crime could increase. Frustration and sheer poverty may drive up crime and violence. These are all reasons to be vigilant and take extra care with your physical safety. No story is worth your life, as they say.
6. Stay level-headed: #NoSourceNoForward:
Only consult and share health news from credible, reliable and official sources. Tricksters get cleverer by the day (as it has always been), and they now, for example, preface some of their messages as “Johns Hopkins University (JHU) just sent this summary ….”, etc. We need to remind partners to stop and think: why would JHU need to compose a summary, when they have excellent, easy-to-follow resources already available on their site: https://hub.jhu.edu/novel-coronavirus-information/, also see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/index.html, https://www.afro.who.int/news/who-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-resources-and-information
7. Mental health
A duty to self, family, friends and partners. COVID-19 can be overwhelming and fills us with uncertainty and fears about the future and about our own health and the health of loved ones. There is also the stress of a huge amount of change, of isolation and of seemingly never-ending tragedy in the news. Our families may suffer losses, and our wellbeing may be compromised through the delay in getting treatment for other health concerns. The list goes on. It is human and normal to feel depressed and anxious under such circumstances. Consult best global guidance on mental health issues, brought on by calamities such as COVID-19, e.g.
WHO: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf?sfvrsn=6d3578af_2,
MNH: https://www.mhinnovation.net/resources/addressing-mental-health-and-psychosocial-needs-during-covid-19-outbreak,
The Carter Center: https://www.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/index.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwpqv0BRABEiwA-TySwboGrw4ggQ7PWxefci0pElqwPngN4Kd4E_NXc99KFLKhcGEey3Va8hoCzGAQAvD_BwE
- Before there is a crisis, enquire about the availability of local support (e.g. counselling groups) and make partners aware of these
- Take breaks from COVID-19!
- Connect with loved ones
Here’s a handy risk assessment you can use to check how safe/unsafe our actions will be:
| Risk versus reward: Is the task worth the risk we’re taking? If it isn’t, we don’t take it. When we leave the sterile confines of our own home, that could mean we’re going into an area where the virus is present, but not visible. Self-assessment of ourselves and our team: 1. What is our age, are we in the vulnerable age bracket? 2. Do we have any underlying ailments that make us more vulnerable? 3. Where is our headspace at the present moment? If we had been dealing with a particularly traumatic story, do we have the headspace to tackle this assignment? 4. Have we done enough research on the issue we’re about to cover and do we know what we’re getting ourselves into? Assessing the environment for the story: 1. Is the environment we’re going into large enough and safe enough to maintain the protocols of social distancing to get the job done? 2. What is the number of people at the venue? 3. Does the venue have hand sanitisers, wash-basins with soap? 4. Evaluate the transport: how are we going to get there? Are we going to self-drive, are we going to take a taxi or App-based cab service? Are we going to take public transport? If so, we need to adhere to the self-protection protocols. What to do when you get home: 1. How do you dispose of contaminated items? Do you have a systematic approach of decontaminating yourself? 2. Be sure to develop a logical and systematic sequence for this, otherwise there will be a loop of recontamination. Example: when you enter your home, wash your hands or sanitise them. Then wipe down your equipment and clean all devices you’ve used in the field. Then remove your work clothes and wash them. Avoid touching anything else and head for the shower. Think again about the system. It has to be logical. Think again about how you could rather be covering the story by using the Tips in #3 above. |