March 22-24: Journalists continue to extend and receive support during COVID-19 pandemic

China continues to enforce strict rules hindering media coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3 Newspapers Ask China to Reverse Decision to Expel American Journalists

March 22: According to the New York Times, publishers at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal jointly released a statement criticizing the Chinese government's decision to bar American journalists at these publications from working in China.

The growing tension between the Trump administration and leader President Xi Jinping of China prompted the announcement for American journalists to hand in their expiring credentials within 10 days.

The combined publishers emphasized the importance of a flow of information during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This move — made in retaliation for recent expulsions by the United States government — is one that we would protest under any circumstances. But it is uniquely damaging and reckless as the world continues the struggle to control this disease, a struggle that will require the free flow of reliable news and information.”

The publishers did go on to praise China for their containment of the virus but also credited the discovery of the virus to the American journalists who worked in China.

Ernie Johnson announced his first virtual session for his online journalism class

March 24: Ernie Johnson, a sports broadcaster for CBS Sports and Turner Sports, is one of the many journalists who are out of a job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson tweeted on Tuesday that he planned to start his first live Twitter session to help connect and educate student journalists.

Johnson explained the goal of his sessions known as “EJ’s Journalism School” is to expose viewers to many different career options in journalism through his insight and from his friends in the business as well. Johnson is planning to have a new guest for every upcoming weekly session.

Johnson’s first session started out successfully with about 100,000 viewers.

Many other journalists joined and the live session with words of encouragement and appreciation for Johnson. Johnson also hinted that he planned to get Seth Davis and Brian Anderson as possible guests for future live sessions.

Twitter is donating $1M across two foundations to support journalism during the coronavirus pandemic

March 24: Twitter announced it would be donating one million dollars to evenly split between the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Women’s Media Foundation.

In the announcement, Twitter explained that journalism is at the core of their service and it is important to contribute to organizations that continue to uphold fundamental values of a free press during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below is Twitter reasoning explained in their statement:

“These funds will be used to ensure these organizations can continue their work in the face of new economic strains and to directly support journalists. Their shared efforts to advocate for the rights of vulnerable reporters and to guarantee an equal share of voice for women in the industry has never been more relevant or important.”

Representatives from both organizations expressed their gratitude for the donations with individual statements.