It could have been worse. Much worse. In fact, the executive director of the Missouri Press Association expected the COVID-19 pandemic to gut a local newspaper industry already reeling from more than a decade of competition from free digital content, rising newsprint costs and circulation declines. Seven of the state’s 200 or so newspapers ceased publishing in 2020, while … [Read more...] about ‘It’s not as bad as I thought’: An examination of how the pandemic impacted news organizations in eight Midwestern states
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Covering COVID-19: A health check for science journalism
What pulls Gary Schwitzer from sleep at 3 a.m. these days is a mixture of personal and professional worries. Personally, Schwitzer is aggrieved by his battle with board members of his homeowners association, who he said have resisted his recommendation for residents in his Twin Cities condo complex to wear masks. Professionally, it’s journalism, specifically the state of … [Read more...] about Covering COVID-19: A health check for science journalism
Small alternative publications fight for survival in the midst of global pandemic
In early March, Salvador Robles, associate publisher of Omaha’s The Reader, was planning for just the kind of story that would resonate with the alt-monthly’s readers: the hunt for the perfect margarita. But after the coronavirus outbreak, the story turned into an article on how to make margaritas at home. The publication’s film writer produced a Netflix listicle instead of … [Read more...] about Small alternative publications fight for survival in the midst of global pandemic
Reporting the coronavirus story feels familiar to a war reporter
My physical world, like many of ours, has become smaller in recent weeks even as my digital world has expanded. I’m working from home, and as an editor, I don’t have to be out reporting in the community to do my job. I can minimize the risks of exposure (for me and my family) to the coronavirus. Not everyone can. Photographers and reporters are still in the community, … [Read more...] about Reporting the coronavirus story feels familiar to a war reporter