April 21-22: Journalists persevere through unpredictable COVID-19 conditions

The World Press Freedom Index evaluates the landscape for journalists in 180 countries and territories.

The Coronavirus Storytelling Project launched to help struggling journalists

April 21: Enid News and Eagle reported the launching of the “Coronavirus Storytelling Project” by three Oklahoma news organization to help struggling journalists.

The Oklahoma-based Inasmuch Foundation has pledged $50,000 to launch the project in collaboration with the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Watch.

“The Coronavirus Storytelling Project provides a unique opportunity to both increase coverage of the COVID-19 crisis, and directly support individuals furloughed or laid-off,” said Robert J. Ross, chairman, and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation.

The funding will provide for five $500 grants each week for the next four months for journalists to work on projects covering news during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Threatens Press Freedom Around the World, Report Says

April 21: The New York Times reported on Tuesday that COVID-19 threatens press freedom according to the World Press Freedom Index.

The official report from Reporters Without Borders stated The United States, which ranked 45th out of 180 countries and territories, and Brazil were becoming models of hostility toward the news media.

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed concerns regarding freedom of press during a crisis where accurate information is crucial.

According to Christophe Deloire, the secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders, the pandemic has allowed governments to “take advantage of the fact that politics are on hold, the public is stunned and protests are out of the question, in order to impose measures that would be impossible in normal times.”

AP, Report for America to put 17 journalists in statehouses

April 22: The Associated Press and Report for America are hiring 17 journalists to boost the AP’s statehouse coverage, according to the Associated Press.

Report for America is an initiative that places emerging journalists in local newsrooms. The AP hires are part of 225 journalists in the 2020 Report for America reporting corps being hosted by 160 news organizations in 45 states and Puerto Rico.

The journalists will cover beats including climate change, public health policy, infrastructure, and voting security.

They will help enhance statewide coverage of elections and help chronicle the state economic and policy decisions that are being developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.