March 25-26: Journalists persevere through COVID-19 challenges

Even when Trump continues to berate journalists, other journalists continue to support each other during a complicated time in their industry.

Egypt forces Guardian journalist to leave after coronavirus story

March 26: Ruth Michaelson, a journalist for the Guardian, was forced to leave Egypt by authorities after she reported on a scientific study that said Egypt was likely to have many more coronavirus cases than have been officially confirmed.

Michaelson had reported on research by infectious disease specialists from the University of Toronto as well as public health data and news stories that pointed to Egypt having a higher rate of COVID-19 cases than the number confirmed by the government.

The results of her study analyzed flight records, traveler data, and infection rates to estimate that Egypt could have had 19,310 coronavirus cases by early March, with the lower end of the range about 6,000 cases.

The Egyptian government’s official count at the time period covered by the data was that three people were infected.

Michaelson’s press accreditation for Egypt was revoked and she left Egypt on Friday on a departing flight.

A vital part of a functioning democracy’: Devin Scillian defends journalists after President Trump’s comments

March 26: Devin Schillian, an anchor for Local 4 News in Detroit, defended journalists in his statement as a “vital part of a functioning democracy” after demeaning comments were made by President Trump at his press conference.

Schillian explained that a White House take down of journalists who continue to work in the field seemed out of place because of the dedication continually demonstrated with their reporting.

He also emphasized the importance of COVID-19 coverage because it provides important information to the public. The reporting is based on provided facts rather than opinion-based journalism that Trump feels all journalists belong to.

Schillian expressed his gratitude for the commitment of journalists to informing the public.

Journalists with ‘permission cards’ allowed out during lockdown

March 26: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) announced that the media and their support staff will be allowed out during lockdown, as long as they have the correct documentation.

A statement confirmed that SANEF has final confirmation from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, and the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, that media workers, and support staff will need the following to go out on assignments during the lockdown.

Journalists are required to have an ID document, media card, to be able to leave the lockdown to continue working.

A tweet from SANEF reads: “SANEF believes that it is essential that journalists are allowed to do their jobs so that ordinary citizens have a clear understanding of what is happening in their country- so that they can contain and fight the disease. #CoronavirysInSA