by Dave Albarado
Reporting in the season of Covid – 19
I may be ripping the classic title of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ novel here, but I want to
make a point that the new normal is here and even reporting of news has been
transformed.
Reportage is now being shaped by the threats of Covid 19 and definitely, today, it
would be difficult to report any news item without the help of technology.
The norm these days is what they call as virtual pressers and virtual interviews. The
use of social media platforms has become ubiquitous because of the need to have
social distancing.
Now, reportage and coverage extensively use the communications facilities as
societies in the world have been on lockdown status and field work for reporters is
limited given the threats of Covid 19.
The imposition of the curfew rule is also plauing its role in the operating hours of
reporters. While, reporters are exempted from the curfew, the density of the
coverage of events has been limited by the curfew rule as there are less events to
cover especially with people locked up in their houses.
In these times of limitations, reporters have adapted themselves to the new norm, so
to say, and have looked for innovations to make do with what is available and make
up for what is lost. One of these innovations is the what is commonly called as apps
that would make it possible to have multi-party interviews.
The standuppers and perhaps the beeper reports today are done with face masks
on. It is now common for reporters to deliver the news with their masks on as
protection from the spread of the virus. What used to be taboo, like speaking in front
of an audience using a mask, is now a must.
It is now a rarity seeing reporters boldly and glaringly walking on the streets and on
main thoroughfares gleaning for news. During these lockdown times, it is now a
regular site to see or hear reporters doing their jobs in their respective homes, at the
same time ensuring themselves of the protection from the dreaded disease.
Who could ever imagine that an outdoor show or a public affairs segment of a tv
program is adapting to and really adopting the new norm of having all activities done
and produced at the host’s home?
We are able to see some talk shows now being produced with bland backgrounds
and away from studios that may be harboring the virus.
The reality is that the Covid-19 virus will be changing the usual way we do things.
In a time shaped by the virus, the audiences are going to be seeing a paradigm shift
in ndws reporting, both for print and broadcast.
Newspapers which are delivered to subscribers’ homes may need to shift, too, by
using the use of a website or the social media. Newspaper companies are
challenged by the limitations on the supply chain as transport is limited impacting the
supplies such as paper or ink used in the newspaper production.
Due to the virus threat, more people are going to consume the news coming from
unconventional sources, which can be susceptible to fake news.
In any case, the internet is playing a vital role in the delivery platform of news in the
time of new normal.
And the biggest challenge for media workers now is about the risks of reporting from
the frontlines. The reporters know the risks of being exposed to the virus and each
time they go out to gather news, they know they are in a virtual suicide mission.