April 17-18: Providing coverage through international adversity

VOA, or Voice of America, is a multimedia agency that covers news in the United States and internationally through digital, radio, and TV content

Somali Journalists Arrested, Intimidated While Covering COVID-19

April 17: At least four journalists have been briefly detained over coronavirus coverage despite Somalia’s prime minister classification of media as an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to VOA News.

Journalists are covering a wide range of topics during the pandemic including reporting on the availability of personal protection equipment and traders allegedly smuggling in goods during the quarantine have been detained or forced to drop their stories.

Somalia had 80 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths as of Friday.

At least eight journalists have been killed since President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo came to power, making Somalia one of the most dangerous countries for journalists to work.

Media and Rights Groups Call for Immediate Release of Missing Journalist in Mozambique

April 18: Media and rights groups are calling on Mozambican authorities to locate and immediately release Ibramio Abu Mbaruco, a community radio journalist for Palma Community Radio, who has been missing since April 7, according to VOA News.

Mbaruco, disappeared while on his way home shortly after he left the radio station.

Arnaud Froger, the head of the Africa desk at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), addressed the situation.

“The silence coming from the highest authorities is extremely worrying and we fear that he could suffer the same fate as other journalists, who were held incommunicado for months last year for covering the violence in northern Mozambique,” the statement said, adding “turning this violence-torn province into a black hole for news and information will not help to end the insurrection.”

Asian Media Battles Officials to Report on Coronavirus

April 18: VOA News reported that media outlets covering the coronavirus pandemic in Asia are having to circumvent authorities to report about the disease, specifically in Taipei, Taiwan.

Journalists are facing challenges reporting on the coronavirus pandemic because of the authoritative grip the government has on media coverage.

Reporters face the risk of death, disappearance, or being trolled just for doing their job. Even meeting with sources is now an added burden because of the lockdown.

Journalists in China, Japan, India, and the Philippines continue to face these hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.