"This study was undertaken over the course of a month and the questionnaire was completed by sixty-three (63) journalists across the region. Most journalists were based in Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Guyana and Jamaica. Most journalists’ carreers spanned between five and ten years and most wo
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rked in the television media. The majority of journalists were employed by their media outlets and undertook pieces that peaked their personal interest. Most journalists believed that their role in society was to provide information to the public although most believed that the current reports being produced are sensationalized. Consistent with this finding half of the journalists shared that they believed that the public perceived journalistic output as only somewhat trustworthy. About two thirds of journalists shared that they have never had to subsidize their investigative reports with about one quarter sharing that they have never been commissioned for an assignment without the media outlet covering their expenses. More than half of the journalists believed that the level of safety of journalists in the past few years was dependent on the journalist’s location. Although, about two thirds of journalists revealed that they have experienced issues with safety while performing their job with half of the journalists stating that they have experienced verbal abuse. Almost half of the journalists believed that they were somewhat supported by their editorial team although they had to provide some of their own tools and or materials. Most journalists reported that government officials are hesitant to share information with the media although most reported that journalists are able to openly investigate and report on government wrongdoings in their country." (Executive summary)
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"The bulk of this report is based on data collected by a survey of more than 80,000 people in 40 markets and reflects media usage in January/February just before the coronavirus hit many of these countries. But the key trends that we document here, including changes in how people access news, low tr
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ust, and rising concern about misinformation have been a backdrop against which journalists, editors, politicians, and public health officials have been battling to reach ordinary people with key messages over the last few months.We know that this crisis has substantially increased the amount and frequency of news consumption as well as influenced attitudes to the news media, at least temporarily. We’ve captured this in a second set of polling data collected in April when the crisis was at its peak in some countries. This has helped us to see the impact of the crisis in terms of sources of news and also reminded us of the critical role that the news media play at times of national crisis, including documenting that people who rely on news media are better informed about the virus than those who do not. While many media companies have been enjoying record audience figures, news fatigue is also setting in, and the short-term and long-term economic impact of the crisis is likely to be profound – advertising budgets are slashed and a recession looms, threatening news media, some of whom are struggling with adapting to a changing world. Against this background, this year’s report also focuses on the shift towards paying for online news in many countries across the world, with detailed analysis of progress in three countries (the UK, USA, and Norway). This year, our report carries important data about the extent to which people value and trust local news, perhaps the sector most vulnerable to the economic shocks that will inevitably follow the health crisis itself. And we also explore the way people access news about climate change as well as attitudes to media coverage for the first time." (Foreword)
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"This paper is intended to provide IMS departments and colleagues with an overview of the trends and challenges to freedom of expression, freedom of the media and access to information stemming from national governments’ responses to the Coronavirus pandemic. First, the paper look into the general
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rules established under international human rights law which define requirements for legitimate rights limitations or derogations from the human rights instruments. Then follows a consideration of the most pressing issues pertaining to media such as, inter alia: procedural shortfalls, disinformation, hate speech, troubles in accessing information, and impediments to journalistic freedom. Finally, a conclusion with a listing of likely future trends and suggestions of possible areas of involvement and response strategies for IMS and its local partners." (Introduction)
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"The Internews approach to addressing COVID-19 is deeply rooted in our new strategy, which calls for building the five elements of a healthy information environment. These are: 1. Good, accurate, evidence-based information; 2. That everyone can access safely; 3. That consumers know how to critically
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assess; 4. That is valued by communities and sustained by business models that work; and 5. Where governments and businesses are accountable for keeping it that way." (Page 3)
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"A quick review of the media status in Palestine indicates that the restrictions and general measures that accompanied the spread of the epidemic will lead to the suspension of many independent/private media outlets, as a result of the interruption of their main source of income, represented in the
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already scarce advertisements. This will cause a serious blow to pluralism and undermine the contexts and trends of public media coverage of various issues, at the forefront of which the controversial issues, which may pave the way for a single-opinion media in Palestine.The matter here is not only limited to the opportunities of continuity and survival from the financial challenges that independent/private media organizations will face, but also extends to one of the most important pillars of press, pluralism and freedom. It is not possible to address the concept of free media apart from pluralism, which (if absent) will lead to the lack of accountability and criticism on the media’s agenda, and the absence of a very important platform for public debate, which will deprive the public of an important opportunity to participate and influence public issues and policies. Some of the general measures imposed during this crisis (not only in Palestine but in various countries) indicate a more difficult and limited working environment that the media may be influenced by once the emergency state and the crisis end. Among the important questions raised in this regard is that idolizing the Government and Security Services (even the health staff ) in connection with their role as part of their duty, will affect the opportunities for the media to account and criticize the Government, Security Services and the health sector after the end of the pandemic." (Pages 4-5)
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"Correspondents in nine countries – Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia – have analysed how the pandemic has affected to their work environment. Lockdowns have caused print media sales and advertising revenue to collapse. Media w
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ith wealthy benefactors or state support are better placed to survive impending economic hardships. Various emergency laws and provisions allowed governments increased control over public information. In several cases, these enabled officials to evade scrutiny and attack journalists whose reporting challenged official statistics and the effectiveness of crisis measures." (Page 1)
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"Beratende und andere Fachkräfte erleben während der Coronapandemie eine nie dagewesene Herausforderung, da ihre eigene Lebenssituation und zugleich die Lebenswelt ihrer Klient*innen sich grundlegend geändert hat. In besonderen Krisenzeiten wie bei einem Lockdown, Kontaktbeschränkungen oder Isol
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ation/Quarantäne kommen dabei neue und ungewohnte Stressoren hinzu, die auf Nähe-Distanz-Regulierung sowie Intimität einen großen Einfluss haben. Hier besteht eine doppelte Herausforderung, nämlich zum einen den eigenen Alltag jenseits früherer Routinen zu meistern, weil auch Beratende regelmäßig ähnlich verunsichernde Situationen erleben. Zum anderen versuchen sie zeitgleich in einer auch beruflich neuen Situation den Fragen und Problemen oft sehr verunsicherter Klient*innen gerecht zu werden. Da Beratung in der Pandemie immer häufiger mittels Telefon oder per Video geschieht, werden hier die wichtigsten Aspekte zu diesen Kommunikationsformen in den Blick gebracht und weiterführende Internetressourcen zur Thematik erschlossen. Auch wenn suizidale Krisen in der Beratungskommunikation eher die Ausnahme sind, wird das Thema hier ausführlich behandelt. Schließlich sind solche existenziellen Krisen in der telefon- oder videobasierten Krisenintervention besonders herausfordernd und können in Krisenzeiten vermehrt vorkommen." (Seite 1)
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"In this small book, we have identified 10 heroes from different media channels of the country and documented their stories. Our colleagues took their time and went for in-depth discussion with those media soldiers and transcribed those into pieces of stories. These stories embodied their first-hand
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experiences, fear, concerns, hope and aspiration. We believe, these stories will be inspirational and a reference for any pandemic journalist in future." (Preface)
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