April 8-9: Journalists remain dedicated to COVID-19 news and supporting each other

Paige Cornwell's Journalists Furlough GoFundMe has received many donations but is not affiliated with the Seattle Times.

Hearst promises journalists at its newspapers no furloughs, no pay cuts

April 8: Poynter reported on Wednesday that Hearst Corporation promised their newspaper journalists there would be no furloughs or pay cuts.

Hearst CEO Steven Swartz said the company would instead give a 1% bonus to all employees. This will help to add a bonus merit pool later and is waiving the budget targets that determine executive bonuses.

Hearst will also take out six-figure TV ad buys in some markets to promote the papers and their pandemic coverage.

Hearst appears to be one of the only corporation taking precedent to inspire other deep-pocket investors to save the battered newspaper industry, according to Poynter.

Seattle reporter’s GoFundMe campaign for furloughed journalists plans major payouts

April 9: Paige Cornwell, a Seattle Times reporter, started a Journalists Furlough GoFundMe account to help support furlough and laid-off journalists, according to the Seattle Times.

Cornwell’s inspiration for the fund came from hearing about journalists struggling to pay for rent and other necessities.

“People would send me Venmo payments of $5 to go get coffee. I saw how even that small gesture meant so much during a crazy time,” Cornwell said.

Cornwell has raised about $48,000 as of Thursday and sent out $12,000 to around 40 journalists who have needed aid.

Anonymous donors, as well as other fellow journalists, have donated to the fund including former CNN anchor Soledad O’ Brien who donated $2,500.

White House to require coronavirus tests for journalists covering daily briefing

April 9: Politico reported that the White House is now requiring coronavirus testing for journalists covering the daily briefing.

The White House Correspondents Association announced the testing as a precautionary measure ahead of Thursday's coronavirus task force briefing.

Requirements have already been put in place to limit the number of journalists with socially distancing rules. Now, journalists will be required to have their temperature checked before stepping on to the White House property and before entering the same room as President Trump.

Jonathan Karl, president of the White House Correspondent Association, issued a statement saying the changes in protocol was a result of one of the members of the press corp experiencing coronavirus symptoms.