We are compiling a growing list of links to articles, guides and tools to help media workers covering the current Coronavirus pandemic. Thanks go to the many organisations that are doing the hard work putting these materials together.
Coming Digital events
'Reporting and Covid-19', The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.
A series of free online conversations about the challenges of reporting amid the coronavirus pandemic. Multiple events between 24 March and 30 April 2020 - information and archive here.
Archived: Digital events and seminars
'Resilience and Reporting',Global Investigative Journalism Network. With Bruce Shapiro and Maria Teresa Ronderos.
Reporting and Covid-19: A Webinar Series for Journalists, Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma
The Dart Center are putting on regular seminar sessions. If you can't make the live digital seminar, they are being made available as YouTube videos here.
'GIJN Webinar Series: Digging into COVID-19 Stories', Global Investigative Journalism Network. With: Gloria Riva, who covers health and business for Italy’s weekly l’Espresso, Joey Qi, GIJN’s Chinese editor, and Drew Sullivan, editor-in-chief of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Center.
Watch the YouTube video here.
'Melbourne Conversations: The new news', Knowledge Melbourne. Elizabeth Kulas, Ben Eltham and Prue Clarke discussed their experience in podcasts, publications and online news channels to explore how news has changed, and where it's headed in the future. The live-stream was recorded on 27 March 2020 and is available here.
‘COVID-19 Online Panel Discussion held at the Doherty Institute’, The Doherty Institute
The Doherty Institute hosted a COVID-19 online panel discussion on Thursday, 19 March, which was moderated by Professor Shitij Kapur, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, with panellists including the Doherty Institute Director Professor Sharon Lewin, the Doherty Institute researchers Professor Kanta Subbarao, Professor Dale Godfrey and Dr Mike Catton, and clinical neuropsychologist Professor Sarah Wilson. Video available on website.
Tips and guides for covering the story
'Tips on Data, Sources, and Angles from Investigative Journalists on the COVID-19 Frontlines', Rowan Philp, Global Investigative Journalism Network website, 6 April 2020
‘Tips for Journalists Covering COVID-19’, Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Global Investigative Journalism Network website, 10 March 2020
‘COVID-19: Poynter Resources’, Poynter Institute website, regularly updated
‘Coronavirus: Tools and guides for journalists’, First Draft website, 18 March 2020. Focus on countering misinformation and verifying stories.
‘Covering Coronavirus: Resources for Journalists’, Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma website, 28 February 2020
Important sources of information about COVID-19
‘Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation reports’, World Health Organisation website, regularly updated
‘Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic’ resources page, World Health Organisation website, regularly updated
‘Coronavirus Resource Centre’, John Hopkins University website, regularly updated. Features a very informative interactive map.
‘COVID-19 Resources page’, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website, regularly updated
‘Coronavirus (COVID-19)’ section, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website, regularly updated
'Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Cochrane resources and news', Cochrane Australia, part of a global not-for-profit health research network working closely with the World Health Organisation.
Examples of reporting on COVID-19
‘Investigative Journalism on the COVID-19 Crisis’, Global Investigative Journalism Network website, 26 March 2020
John Bergin’s Twitter list (Australia-focused. John works for Google News Initiative and the Walkley Foundation.
RMIT ABC Fact Check CoronaCheck. The RMIT ABC Fact Check initiative have started an email newsletter to tackle the spread of misinformation. Click the link to sign up. You can also send suspected examples of misinformation to factcheck@rmit.edu.au.
Examples of data journalism/infographics
‘Coronavirus Resource Centre’, John Hopkins University website, regularly updated. Features a very informative interactive map.
‘Data Journalism Top 10’, Eunice Au & Connected Action, Global Investigative Journalism Network website, 19 March 2020
‘What we can learn from the countries winning the coronavirus fight’, Tim Leslie, Colin Gourlay, Joshua Byrd, Catherine Hanrahan, Simon Elvery, Matt Liddy and Ben Spraggon, ABC, 26 March 2020
Reputable Creative Commons content
‘The Conversation’, independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community. Creative Commons, but follow the republishing guidelines.
‘The COVID-19 SoJo Exchange’, US-focused Creative Commons material. There are some interesting articles exploring the social impact of the current crisis. Attribution information at top of article.
Tips for working safely online
‘How journalists can work from home securely’, Harlo Holmes, Olivia Martin, David Huerta, Martin Shelton, Freedom of the Press Foundation website, 18 March 2020. Also see their ‘Training’ section, which contains more in-depth articles on a range of issues.
Trauma, mental health and covering Coronavirus
'Journalism, mental health and COVID-19', Melbourne Press Club, 9 April 2020
‘How Journalists Can Deal With Trauma While Reporting on COVID-19’, Olga Simanovych, Global Investigative Journalism Network website, 24 March 2020
‘How journalists can fight stress from covering the coronavirus’, Al Tompkins and Sidney Tompkins, Poynter Institute website, 15 March 2020
Tips for journalists in difficult times
'JNI announces short-term package to support journalism', Judith Nielson Institute website. The Judith Neilson Institutehas established three short-term initiatives to support journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, the institute is establishing a funding mechanism for freelancers and casual contributors.
'COVID-19: Coronavirus Resources for Media', Women in Media website
'Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws', Fair Work Ombudsman
‘Resources for freelance writers in uncertain times’, Lindy Alexander, The Freelancer’s Year, March 2020
‘Why You Need to Reach Out to All Clients (Current and Past) in the Next Few Days’, Jennifer Goforth Gregory, The Content Marketing Writer, 13 March 2020
Dealing with the pandemic on a personal level
‘What Do You Tell Someone Who Still Won’t Stay Home?’, Joe Pinsker, The Atlantic, 19 March 2020