Journalism and the Pandemic

This edited volume of essays analyzes how the entire practice of journalism in America has changed irrevocably due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Written by journalists and other industry professionals, essays outline an assortment of related topics, including the rapid adoption of new technology like Zoom, the state of public health reporting, diversity in journalism and more. This book also outlines major implications for the future of journalism, detailing some long-lasting changes that could impact generations to come. These shifts in journalism will have economic, social and ethical consequences long after the pandemic ends and could shift the entire paradigm for deciding what news is and how it is covered.

Tony Silvia is professor emeritus of journalism and digital communication at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg and had a long career in broadcast journalism. He is the author of seven other titles, including four with McFarland. He lives in Little Compton, Rhode Island and Dunedin, Florida.

Edited by Tony Silvia
Foreword by Bill Whitaker
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 230
Bibliographic Info: 3 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8746-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4677-0
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword
Bill Whitaker vii
Introduction: A Collaborative Pandemic Project
Tony Silvia 1
Part I. Reporting a Pandemic
The Rapid Pace of Disruptive Change
Tony Silvia 7
Personal Perspectives from the Frontlines of News
Janet K. Keeler 17
Covering Politics During the Pandemic: A Personal Journey
LaCrai D. Mitchell 32
Investigative Reporting: Assessing Covid’s Lasting Impact
Mark Douglas Iusi 51
The Future of Collegiate Journalism in the Wake of ­Covid-19
Jennifer Fleming and Teresa Puente 76
Community Journalism: The Pandemic as a Catalyst for Change
Bernardo H. Motta 88
Part II. Gaining Understanding
Coronavirus and the Bermuda Triangle of Public Health Reporting
Mark Jerome Walters 103
Social Media and the Pandemic: Myths and Misinformation
Tony Silvia and Casey Frechette 118
Part III. Charting a Course
Shifting Newsroom Economics: A Lasting Impact
Elliott Wiser 137
Zooming the Pandemic: Developing New Technologies
Casey Frechette 148
Diversity: ­Covid-19, George Floyd and Lessons Learned
Lillian R. Dunlap 161
Ethical Reporting in the Pandemic and Beyond
Deni Elliott and Andrea Chu 172
Teaching Journalism During (and After) the Pandemic
Tony Silvia and Janet K. Keeler 189
Part IV. Revisiting News Practices­Post-Pandemic: A Roundtable Discussion
“Journalism After the Pandemic” Roundtable 201
Suggestions for Further Reading 213
About the Contributors 217
Index 219