Community Journalism during the Coronavirus Pandemic: Bringing Home the Importance of Local
At a time of crisis for journalism, local news organizations have been particularly hard hit by structural changes to journalistic institutions. Community journalism providers and hyperlocal news organizations have stepped into the void created by the closure of local newspapers. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 59 community journalists in the UK, the talk will focus on their experiences during the pandemic and will show how it has underscored the indispensable role of journalism in fostering community cohesion.
Speaker
Karin Wahl-Jorgensen, Professor, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, United Kingdom
Moderator
Alice Nemcova Tejkalova, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Czechia
Making Lemonade Out of Lemons: Stories of Media Resilience in the Face of Covid
The coronavirus pandemic has affected media organizations in unprecedented ways. Besides the challenges and hardships, it has been an opportunity for newsrooms to innovate to serve readers in a time of crisis. In this talk, we will focus on how European news organizations adjusted their daily editorial output by developing new forms of storytelling and launching innovative products and tools. Drawing on the findings from the European Journalism Centre's Resilience Report series, attendees will hear case studies from Istinomer in Serbia, Magazín Reportér in Czechia, Solomon Mag in Greece, and Heidi.news in Switzerland.
Speaker
Tara Kelly, Data Editor, European Journalism Centre, Ireland/USA
Moderator
Alice Nemcova Tejkalova, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Czechia
How Mediacités Worked with its Communities to Find Local Solutions to COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the local, investigative news organization Mediacités surveyed its members to ascertain what kind of information they expected. Most wanted to read solutions journalism about local responses to the crisis. For the first time, Mediacités’ reporters produced a series of 14 solutions stories, driven by readers’ suggestions. Hear how they did it.
Speaker
Pierre Leibovici, Engagement Lead, Mediacités, France
Moderator
Alice Nemcova Tejkalova, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Czechia
Interview: Journalism and Reporting COVID-19
Ilda Londo introduces an online resource from the Albanian Media Institute devoted to media coverage of COVID-19. Information includes reporting tips for journalists; articles on media challenges in covering the pandemic; and perspectives from journalists who report on the pandemic in Albania.
This interview was organized in cooperation with the International Visegrad Fund.
Speaker
Ilda Londo, Research Coordinator, Albanian Media Institute, Albania