Challenges of Journalists Across All Continents in the Coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 crisis, journalists doubled efforts to keep societies informed, safe, and disease-free. The study examines and compares specific challenges that journalists, based in diverse world regions, confronted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted with 215 journalists working in 45 countries, following geographical and gender balance, to analyse journalistic skills, information and pressures received, institutional support provided by national authorities and international organizations, actions against disinformation and fake news, as well as the impact that the crisis would have on journalism. The paper shows key differences in the experiences of journalists regarding the world region highlighting the complexity of the media ecosystems and the various challenges that local journalists had covering the pandemic. After mapping those challenges, the paper tries to list key strategies to position and strengthen journalism upon future crises and to highlight the relevance of professional media as a crucial element in crisis management.