Reflection on journalism during COVID-19

Journalism has evolved significantly over the past decades in order to adapt to the constant change in technology and need to cater to different demands of a larger audience. However, COVID-19 has accelerated the rate of change, prompting journalists and news organisations to explore new methods as they move online. The global pandemic changed many aspects of the way journalists operate. This includes conducting interviews, filming, finding stories and much more.

This a had an impact on the way news was presented due to the constant developments of events and the limits on face-to-face interaction leading to technical issues for example with online interviews, camera angles and video quality.

Technology allows journalists to convey the story in different and creative ways to ensure the news reached all segments of the local or international audiences in the best form suitable for their consumption.

With people, many people video journaling their experiences with self-isolation or hospitals, these videos were used to tell stories with only some editing and addition of texts that explains the context.

There were also embarrassing moments such as family members or pets disrupting live reporting, issues with dress-codes, and things being captured on camera that should not have been. Often this was dealt with using humour, and to be honest it’s hard to blame anyone as suddenly homes became the workspace.

Modes of transmitting news has evolved in order to cater for various audiences who prefer to access content online in certain ways, whether that is through videos, audio, graphs, written content or interactive ways. Presenting news on social media can be challenges due to their design and nature such as the limitations of these platforms on word limits. However, social media has become a crucial method in offering or promoting news and directing readers to the original content.

Online users often look for quick ways to find information and many might not necessarily want or need to have access to more in-depth details of a news story, which would be available an article or a video report. Therefore, presenting accurate yet simplified information about a news story on social media is important. Although, this requires careful attention to avoid misleading the audience due to the assumption that they will continue reading the story.

Presenting information in a video and audio forms are significant ways for audience to access news. Due to our busy lives, we often find ourselves multi-tasking, therefore being able to listen or watch news on our phones while eating or commuting is useful, in fact might be the only way some audience access news.

As a journalism student, moving to an online learning mode, only three weeks after commencing the semester, was a challenge. More so, was adapting to the situation and finding ways to conduct interviews and attain footages under the COVID-19 restrictions that placed a hold on most aspects of life.

However, the experience encouraged me to learn how to adapt to any situation and find ways to tell stories with what is available, instead of worrying and restricting one’s self with external factors. Collaborating with other students and sharing footages is an indication of the significance of benefits of collaborations. Working with a team member was as much rewarding as we were able to share ideas, contacts, share tasks and provide each other with feedback to achieve a good outcome.

Delivering the same story as an article, radio or video report, Facebook and Twitter posts required some thought, however it gave an insight on the way a story is told to audience on different platforms. There are many aspects of a news story that are crucial, however choosing the most important parts that resonates with the audience and grabs their attention is the challenge. This is more challenging for Twitter due to the character limit, although being able to present the story in a way that answers the four Ws, yet ignites interest in the story, is effective in attracting readers to the full news story. Using the correct hashtags is helps online users attract the story, especially for new accounts with small following.