COVID-19 Resources for Journalists

SEJ is compiling resources to aid in your reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic. Know of a great resource we should add? Please send to SEJ web content manager Cindy MacDonald.

Headlines on COVID-19 and Environment

This list, compiled by SEJ's Joseph A. Davis, contains a selection of stories from many news media on COVID-19, energy, environment and journalism.

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SEJ Members in Need

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SEJ will waive membership renewal fees for members experiencing financial hardship. When it's time for you to renew, please follow the instructions on the renewal form to request a discount code.
And if you're able to help, please donate to the SEJ Members in Need fund to cover membership fee waivers and other programs for members.

  • The National Geographic Society's COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists will distribute grants ranging between $1,000 and $8,000 to support evidence-based local coverage of the preparation for, response to, and impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Priority communities include those at high risk or hit especially hard by the virus; Indigenous communities; immigrant or refugee communities; underserved, urban, rural, or elderly populations; and children. Deadline: Aug 15, 2021.
  • Brechner Reporting Fellowships: The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information offers 10 fellowships for professional journalists experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Fellows will be granted $2,500 to create narrative projects that address, and identify solutions to, persistent problems that interfere with the public’s ability to get information about the workings of government. Deadline: May 15, 2020.
  • CLEF COVID-19 Response Fund: For nonprofit and for-profit newsrooms that are already committed to community engagement and are looking to advance their work in response to COVID-19. From Community Listening and Engagement Fund, a grant-making initiative from The News Integrity Initiative, Democracy Fund, The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, and the Knight Foundation. Deadline: Apr 27, 2020.
  • Coronovirus Relief Programs, Loans, Grants
  • COVID-19 Local News Fund: A Local Media Association fundraising program which allows independent and family-owned news organizations to solicit tax-deductible community donations to support and increase their coverage of the crisis. There is no deadline; news outlets can apply any time.
  • COVID-19 Small Business Relief Finder: A table of federal, state, and private resources to help you find loans, credits, and grants.
  • DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants: Includes freelancers. Deadline: March 31, 2020.
  • Economic Hardship Reporting Project: Grants for stories on the intersection of the coronavirus and financial suffering in America (pay rate ~a dollar a word), with an emphasis on writers and photographers who are themselves experiencing significant economic hardship caused by the pandemic (emergency hardship grants of US$500-$1,500).
  • FIJ Coronavirus Rolling Grant for U.S. Freelancers: For the next few months, the Fund for Investigative Journalism will provide immediate emergency grants of up to $10,000 to U.S.-based freelance investigative journalists working on stories on the coronavirus that break new ground and expose wrongdoing in the public or private sector.
  • Freelancers Relief Fund: Freelancers Union's fund to support freelancers impacted by COVID-19
  • Freelance Audio Fund: Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) provides emergency relief to the professional audio community impacted by COVID-19. Open to non-AIR members. Deadline: May 22, 2020.
  • Freelance Investigative Reporters and Editors (FIRE) Services and Grants: FIRE helps independent journalists by providing two services: a complimentary Editorial Consultancy and a Virtual Newsroom. Services and grants of up to $12,500 are provided to assist freelance reporters working on investigative stories. Rolling deadline, with special consideration for covid19-related investigations.
  • "Internews Launches Rapid Response Fund to Support Local Journalism Worldwide," March 26, 2020.
  • Journalism Emergency Relief Fund: Google News Initiative's fund aims to support the production of original journalism for local communities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline: Apr 29, 2020.
  • Journalism Relief Fund: Up to $2,000 for women-identifying journalists from the International Women’s Media Foundation
  • Journalist Furlough Fund: Created by a group of journalists including Paige Cornwell (GoFundMe page & Google Form request for assistance)
  • Microloans for Journalists: Created by journalists Sisi Wei, Robert Faturechi, Ryan Gabrielson and Topher Sanders (matching service)
  • The Photographer Fund: A $25,000 fund to help photographers impacted by COVID-19, from online portfolio platform Format. $500 available per person. Deadline: till funds run out.
  • Pulitzer Center Call for Proposals: Amazon Rainforest Journalism Fund and COVID19. Submit a proposal for a digital, collaborative news-project that will shed light on the intersection of COVID-19, deforestation and other critical issues in the region. Deadline: Jun 23, 2020.
  • Reporting for Mongabay During COVID-19: Mongabay has multiple open reporting opportunities. Current priority is desk-reported stories and this constraint may inspire creative approaches. Please consider pitching more breaking news, interview, research-oriented or data-driven storytelling approaches.
  • SAJA and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project: Two grants, up to $2,500 each, to help freelancers during a time when newsrooms and organizations are slashing budgets to commission work. Deadline: April 15, 2020.

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Dart Center's Reporting and COVID-19: A Webinar Series for Journalists. These online conversations, about the challenges of reporting amid the coronavirus pandemic are led by Dart Center executive director Bruce Shapiro. Co-sponsored by Columbia Journalism Review.

Society of Professional Journalists "Together Calendar."

 

Past

Nov 19, 2020
Risk and Injury: Journalists, Mental Health and COVID-19. In June, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford research found participating journalists from around the world showed signs of anxiety and depression. The Canadian Journalism Foundation hosted this webinar with the study authors for a discussion of how journalists can take care of their mental and emotional well-being and how newsrooms can best support them. Video recording.

Nov 19, 2020
The Invisibility of Indigenous COVID-19 Data Virtual Roundtable. NYC, LA nor Chicago explicitly include Native Americans in the breakdowns of their COVID-19 data. This continues the "invisibility" of these communities that were already at risk. How do journalists navigate these barriers to ensure inclusive, contextual and responsible coverage of Indigenous people and communities? Hosted by the Native American Journalists Association. Video recording.

Oct 15, 2020
Covering Climate Change: Connecting the Dots. The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, in partnership with Climate Nexus, organized Covering Climate Change: Connecting the Dots, a panel discussion with three journalists who are connecting the dots between our drastically changing climate and environmental justice, changing U.S. policy, the impacts of COVID-19 and more.

Aug 5
Keeping Public Records Public: Strategies for Getting Access During the Pandemic. Government records belong to the public, but journalists often face delays and redactions that make it difficult to get the information they need to inform the public about significant issues. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever for journalists to be strategic when they are seeking government records. In this session from the National Press Club Journalism Institute, participants learned to build sound strategies and approaches to requesting and obtaining public records using the Freedom of Information Act and state open records laws.

Jul 31
COVID-19 Dynamics & Evolution. This live streamed, public session from the UCSD School of Medicine brought together scientists and journalists to spotlight our current understanding of COVID-19 dynamics and evolution and discuss knowledge gaps. The public forum addressed a range of scientific challenges, from broad theoretical questions to specific practical ones, which will ultimately inform public health decisions.

Jul 16
Covering Climate, COVID-19 and the Economy: Is a Green Recovery Possible? This #SEJ2020 webinar reported on what journalists need to know to cover decisions about infrastructure, industry and regulation that will have enduring impacts on our climate and our health — and help the public understand the options and tradeoffs. Webinar details, video recording and chat log.

Jul 14
Resilience and Adaptation: Media and the Corona Crisis. Journalism and the media play an indispensable role in democracies – especially in times of crisis. How can journalists keep the public informed about the world around them in the midst of a lock-down and with social distancing in place? How can they gather information for their reporting and opinion pieces? And, how does one ensure that alternative facts do not masquerade as opinion? Two editorial page editors discussed the challenges facing the media in Europe and the U.S. during the pandemic. Hosted by American Council on Germany and 1014.

Jul 9
Investigating the Pandemic: Surviving as a Freelance Journalist. This Global Investigative Journalism Network webinar will bring together five senior investigative journalists, four with hard-won years of freelance experience and one who has commissioned and worked with freelancers and independents for decades. They will suggest concrete steps to improve conditions for freelance investigative reporters, and share the best services and resources.

Jul 8
Covering Climate, COVID-19 and Environmental Justice: A Journalists' Roundtable. Covering Climate, COVID-19 and Environmental Justice graphicThrough reporting on environmental injustice, journalists can help the public understand the linkages between COVID-19, climate change and racial inequality, and share the experiences of under-represented communities with a wider audience. At the same time, the news industry is beginning to reckon with its own history of structural inequality and ongoing racism within the newsroom, which have helped to marginalize the concept of environmental justice and the reporters who cover it. In our third #SEJ2020 webinar, environmental reporters and storytellers discussed their experiences covering these issues. Webinar details, video recording and chat log.

Jul 8
COVID-19: Six Months Later, What Do We Know Now? Six months since the COVID-19 outbreak in China, researchers have been racing to learn what they can about the novel coronavirus: how it's transmitted, how long immunity lasts, who survives, who doesn't, and why. In this ICFJ Q&A with Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a leading virologist, we'll discuss what the latest facts are about COVID-19 and our immune response to it. Are there ways we can increase our chances of fighting off the virus? How does the virus impact our bodies? What do we know so far?

Jul 6
The Impact of COVID on the Energy Transition: Accelerator or Retardant? The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the global economy and shaken the fossil fuel system. Global governments have committed trillions to recovery and has created a space for policymakers and institution to put in place a sustainable energy system. IRENA will present their latest analysis on COVID-19 and the transition and Carbon Tracker will present findings from their latest report Decline and Fall: the size and vulnerability of the fossil fuel system. Organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency & Carbon Tracker. 10:00-11:00 a.m. ET.

Jul 3
From Recovery to COP26: The Contribution of Sustainable Cooling. Cooling plays an important role in supporting societies through the COVID-19 crisis; from protecting temperature-sensitive medical supplies to ensuring reliable food supplies. Support for sustainable cooling in stimulus and recovery packages could also help reduce energy costs for households and businesses. All of this, in turn, will help governments meet near-term stimulus objectives while also meeting commitments made as a part of the Paris Agreement, Kigali Amendment, and Sustainable Development Goals, which are all crucial for a better recovery. Organized by E3G.

Jul 3 Deadline
ASJA Crisis Coverage Awards: COVID-19 Edition. The American Society of Journalists and Authors' new awards program will recognize professional writers for their coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Submissions for this first round must be published in English anywhere in the world between Jan 1 and Jun 30, 2020.

Jul 2
Frontline Reporting From COVID Hot Spots Webinar: Journalists in COVID-19 hot spots have faced unprecedented professional challenges and personal risks to cover life and death issues. East-West Center's seven US and Asian speakers have been on the ground reporting from Wuhan’s seafood market and hospitals amid local government cover-ups; in East Asian streets and Seattle nursing homes as the deadly virus spread; and in South Asia with massive migrations of hungry workers escaping India’s locked-down cities and hundreds of Pakistani journalists contracting the virus. Journalists have still faced growing government threats and media shutdowns. Journalists shared their insights, back stories, challenges and lessons learned in the face of an expected second wave. More info, including panelists.

Jul 1
Perfect Storms: Responding To Hurricanes While Addressing COVID-19. Join Duke Science & Society and our panel of experts in a discussion of the hurricane season forecasts, the potential for further COVID-19 spread through typical hurricane response measures like evacuations or sheltering, and what additional measures must be taken to protect and respond to the needs of affected people.

Jun 30
Journalism and the Pandemic: The Disinfodemic. Journalism is not just at risk of being swamped in what the World Health Organization calls the 'infodemic'. It is also a target of, and a bulwark against, what UNESCO calls a 'disinfodemic'. So, what encounters are journalists, fact-checkers and other media workers having with mis/disinformation? How does it impact their work? And how are news outlets working to counter the information pollution fueling the pandemic? Hosted by ICFJ. 11:00 a.m. ET.

Jun 30
Resilience and Adaptation: Rethinking Civil Society. The coronavirus crisis is affecting almost every aspect of civil society. Against the backdrop of simultaneous public health and economic crises, there are demands for greater social equity. What does civil society need to address the current challenges? How can institutions and practices adapt to best serve their communities? Practitioners and experts from Germany and the U.S. will take on these and other questions. Hosted by American Council on Germany and 1014. 11:00 a.m. ET.

Jun 30
Covering COVID: Investigative Journalism and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journalists are uncovering new information about how the public and private sectors are responding to the epidemic – and how millions of people are affected. This event will include insights, lessons and tips for reporting around this complicated and fast-moving story. Hosted by the Fund for Investigative Journalism and the Association of Health Care Journalists. 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET.

Jun 29
COVID-19 and Latin America's Epidemic of Corruption. What progress did Latin America make prior to the pandemic to guard against corruption, including in the health sector? Is the coronavirus proving the robustness of these systems, or exposing weaknesses? What steps are governments and civil society organizations taking to respond to the increased threat of corruption? Hosted by the Wilson Center's Latin America Program. 10:00-11:00 a.m. ET.

Jun 29
COVID-19: Reporting on Communities of Color
Around the world communities of color have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic evident by the disparities in mortality rates and access to health care. And they face dire economic consequences with national lockdowns and restrictions of movement, discrimination by law enforcement and prejudice by their societies at large. This ICFJ webinar will discuss what journalists need to know when reporting on these communities — the do's and don'ts — how to frame stories, be sensitive to often underrepresented voices, and amplify them in a way that leads to government accountability. 10:00 a.m. ET.

Jun 29 Deadline
Tracking Coronavirus Relief Funds: How to Follow the Taxpayers' Money. National Press Foundation will offer a free online training program for 25 journalists to help them track how federal pandemic assistance funds are being used. The training will be held for two hours per day from July 13-17 (10 hours total). Fellows will be offered subsequent confidential follow-up sessions with experts and data analysts to help them bring their stories to successful publication.

Jun 25
Virus, Spread and Response: As Seen From Indian Eyes in Global Metropolises. Urban Update brings you the experience of Indian Journalists reporting from across the world, the places and the global cities that turned into graveyards over months.

Jun 25
The Journalism Crisis Project Webinar Series: The Search for Solutions. A weekly joint webinar hosted by the Columbia Journalism Review and the Tow Center for Digital Journalism. Each week will include a panel of special guests to discuss the current crisis in local journalism and how COVID-19 is impacting and accelerating problems that have long been accumulating in the world of media and reporting.

Jun 24
The Blame Game: What Is the Media's Responsibility in the Corona Crisis? Deutsche Welle's Global Media Forum 2020 kicked off with this virtual session exploring the role of journalism and media’s responsibility in the corona pandemic with regard to providing accurate information to the public — especially on this topic which directly affects public health.

Jun 24
Covering Disasters: Extreme Heat 2020. Climate Central and the International Association of Emergency Managers hosted this event with climate experts, health professionals, meteorologists, community planners and veteran reporters will discuss rising temperature trends and how to cover potentially deadly heat while COVID-19 protocols are in place.

Jun 23
Global South: Forest Fires and COVID-19 Converge on Territories of World’s Best Forest Guardians. Researchers with the Woods Hole Research Laboratory and the Prisma Foundation reported on the drivers of wildfires in the Amazon and other emblematic tropical forest regions. Indigenous fire-control experts from Guatemala and Brazil explained their tactics for tackling the twin crises of COVID-19 and the fire season. Second in a series this week, organized by If Not Us Then Who.

Jun 23
Renewable Energy in the Americas: Charging Ahead. As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on economies throughout the region, the renewable energy sector may provide a unique opportunity for attracting foreign direct investment and creating jobs in the formal sector, all the while reducing the region’s carbon footprint to mitigate climate change. Hosted by the Wilson Center's Latin America Program.

Jun 23
Resilience and Adaptation: Climate Change and the Coronavirus. Does the current moment provide an opportunity to address environmental concerns in a new way or does the pandemic make it more difficult to meet the challenges of climate change? Experts discussed the impact of the pandemic on climate and environmental policy in the U.S. and Europe. Hosted by American Council on Germany and 1014. Video recording.

Jun 19
Climate, COVID-19 and the Collaboration We Need: This event, the first in a series organized by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), looked at the changing world and discussed what kind of collaboration and action is needed to readjust, and what we can learn that will help us tackle the climate crisis.

Jun 19
The Indigenous COVID-19 Catastrophe: Earth Institute Live hosted a discussion on the wave of social devastation spreading through indigenous and oppressed communities worldwide as COVID-19 takes ever more victims with outsize vulnerability — much of it imposed on them. Moderated by SEJ member Andrew Revkin. Info and recording.

Jun 15-19
Climate Change, COVID-19 and the Call for Justice: The time has come for systemic change. This need is demonstrated by the repeated cases of appalling anti-Black police violence and the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 and climate change on communities of color in the U.S. Metcalf Institute’s Online Lecture Series will explore ways that the pandemic could shift our thinking, research and action on climate change. The starkly unequal effects of these overlapping crises demand new approaches that are just, equitable and sustainable. We must also explore these issues in the context of racism and anti-Black violence, as these are all intersecting problems in our country.

Jun 18
Journalism and COVID-19: Responsible Reporting on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health. PAHO/WHO and the Caribbean Development Bank, in association with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, hosted a virtual workshop on how to ensure informative, responsible, safe and evidence-based coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar also included examples from Caribbean journalists reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic on the ground.

Jun 17
Press, Protests and the Pandemic: The State of Reporting in the Triad. The Triad of Black Journalists discussed how recent events are being covered in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina, self-care when on the scene, forging relationships, responsible journalism and how to cover the communities that we live in with black and brown skin.

Jun 17
Photojournalism in the COVID-19 Era: ICFJ hosted this discussion on photojournalism’s role in covering COVID-19 — why it’s important in the first place, the unique challenges photojournalists are encountering, and ethical considerations around documenting the crisis, among other issues. Speakers: Elodie Mailliet Storm, CEO of the visual storytelling organization, CatchLight; Todd James, a senior photo editor at National Geographic; and Camilla Ferrari, a Milan-based photojournalist who has covered the health crisis firsthand.

Jun 17
What Happens When Forest Fires and COVID-19 Collide — And What Can Be Done To Stop the Fires? Earth Institute hosted this briefing on COVID-19 and wildfires in Brazil and Indonesia. Ruth DeFries of Columbia University, Harvey Fineberg of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Marcia Castro of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health discussed the compounding effects of these issues.

Jun 16
#ICTalks: A Conversation With Sonia Shah. It is not uncommon to see journalists enter dangerous or risky situations for the sake of informing the public. Given today's crisis and demands for factual information, journalists need to evaluate what is essential and what is not. The International Community of the Society of Professional Journalists discussed this with investigative science journalist Sonia Shah, author of the prize-winning 2017 book, "Pandemic: Tracking Contagions from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond."

Jun 16
Fighting Disinformation on the Frontlines Webinar: It is imperative that societies have access to accurate information in critical moments such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Disinformation can have life and death consequences. At the same time, there is growing distrust in health experts and scientific data. The East-West Center hosted diverse experts in the U.S. and Asia Pacific engaged in combating disinformation on the front lines through international and community fact-checking networks, social media platforms and news literacy education. More info, including panelists.

Jun 16
Forum on COVID-19 Social Media Disinformation: The Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics (IDDP) at George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs convened this event with opening remarks from Nancy Pelosi (US Speaker of the House) and Vera Jourova (European Commission's Vice President for Values and Transparency). Panelists include other prominent policymakers from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada (US Sen Patty Murray, US Sen Richard Blumenthal, US Rep Dave Cicilline, US Rep Jan Schakowsky, UK MP Damian Collins, Canadian MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith), and featured testimony by physicians and other witnesses who have seen the direct impacts of COVID-19 disinformation. Moderated by IDDP's Frank Sesno. Video recording. CNBC coverage. WSHU/NPR coverage.

Jun 15
Resilience and Adaptation: Social Inequity and the Corona Crisis. Combined public health and economic crises have exacerbated social inequity in our societies. Social injustice and police brutality have led to widespread protests and unrest. From essential workers risking their lives on minimum wage to poor living conditions to inadequate access to health care and the digital world, we must right many existing wrongs in the United States and in Europe. German sociologist Prof. Dr. Jutta Allmendinger and American community leader Bill Strickland discussed how to heal and preserve the fabric of our communities. Hosted by American Council on Germany and 1014. Video recording.

Jun 11 & 12
Visualizing the COVID Pandemic: Journalists need the technical and critical thinking skills to wrangle, analyze and visualize authoritative COVID-related datasets. This webinar showed how to do data journalism in Observable, a fast, free, cutting-edge coding environment and Vega, a visualization grammar that makes it easy for anyone to produce a wide variety of brilliant interactive charts with live data. Hosted by University of Missouri's Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Watch the recordings: Day 1 | Day 2 (experience working with code or data is not needed).

Jun 10
Journalism and the Pandemic: Innovative Approaches to Reporting #COVID19. ICFJ and the Tow Center at Columbia University hosted this webinar to explore the ways international journalists are overcoming reporting challenges and creating compelling stories as the COVID-19 crisis continues. Video recording.

Jun 10, 2020
Covering Unrest: When Journalists of Color Become the Target. This Center for Health Journalism webinar, co-sponsored by the Maynard Institute and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, took a deep look at the physical and mental health risks, identified coping strategies and offered practical tips and suggestions on staying safe while covering two overlapping crises — nationwide protests and COVID-19. Watch the recording.

Jun 10
Building Community Resilience: Climate Action and Equity. Simon Fraser University's Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT) hosted an insightful discussion with Dr. Edward Cameron about climate justice and equity in a post COVID-19 world. Slides and video recordings.

Jun 6
COVID-19 and Facing Up to Climate Reality: A Green House Think Tank discussion with Reinhard Loske (Cusanus University, Germany); John Barry (Queens University, Belfast); Anne Chapman (co-chair , Green House); and John Foster (freelance writer and Lancaster University, UK), hosted by Prashant Vaze (Climate Bonds Initiative) on what the COVID-19 pandemic may mean for efforts to address the climate and ecological crisis.

Jun 5
World Environment Day 2020: Parallels Between Biodiversity, COVID-19 and Climate Change. SGE (Sustainable Green Environment) Initiative, based in Nigeria, hosted this webinar on incorporating environmental sustainability into diverse industries and sectors, including construction, agriculture, oil and gas, and manufacturing and production.

Jun 4
Lessons Learned Reporting on a Pandemic: New York. Q&A with Miguel Marquez, CNN national correspondent, who has produced riveting television stories from New York, one of the world’s pandemic hot spots. Marquez, moderated by ICFJ's Patrick Butler, talked about these stories from the city that experienced one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in the world.

Jun 4
Why Creating an Inclusive Newsroom in the Time of COVID-19 Is Urgent: Are you serious about making sure newsrooms and their work reflect the communities we cover? Especially as COVID-19 disproportionately affects historically marginalized people — and on the cusp of an election impacted by racism? IRE and the Maynard Institute hosted a discussion on the importance of keeping newsrooms diverse during COVID-19. Recording. Tipsheet.

Jun 3
Building Resiliency — What Science Can Teach Us: Part of the Dart Center's "Reporting COVID-19" webinar series. Guest: Steve Southwick, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale Medical School and at the Yale Child Study Center, Adjunct Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Medical Director of the Clinical Neurosciences Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Video recording.

Jun 2
What the Climate Crisis Looks Like in a COVID-Altered World: Internews’ Earth Journalism Network hosted this webinar on where the climate crisis conversation goes from here. Guest experts included Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University and former Chief Climate Officer at the World Bank; and Justin Worland, energy and environment correspondent for Time Magazine. Video recording and resources.

Jun 2
COVID-19’s Effects On Freelancing — and Its Future: Independent journalist and filmmaker Zoe Flood spoke with Melissa Noel, an independent multimedia journalist, and Marc Perkins, the managing editor for BBC Africa Eye, about the state of freelancing today. A collaboration of the International Center for Journalists, the International Women's Media Foundation, ACOS Alliance, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma and the Frontline Freelance Register. Watch the recording.

Jun 1
How the Electric Power Sector Is Weathering the Pandemic: Duke University and industry experts discussed how the electric power sector is weathering current challenges — and what the impact might be for the energy transition. Co-hosted by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and the Duke University Energy Initiative. Watch the recording.

May 4-31
Journalism in a Pandemic: Covering COVID-19 Now and in the Future: The Knight Center's free four-week online MOOC, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNESCO. We believe all journalists should learn more about the pandemic and how to cover it better. We asked journalists about what we should include in this course, compiled more than 3,000 answers and then we joined forces with those international organizations to produce this course. Available in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French. Learn from other journalists who are on the frontlines of the coverage of the pandemic and from renowned experts. Learn about tools to dispel disinformation, misinformation and myths created around COVID-19.

May 29
Locative Media, Climate Change and (Im)Mobility During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A day of online discussion and exchange to kick off a British Academy / Leverhulme funded research project that will explore the possibilities of using locative media as an educational tool for documenting and understanding the locally-global relations around the theme of (im)mobility and climate change during the pandemic. We aimed to get a sense of how locative media is already being used, how it could be used, and where its limitations are, in bringing people’s stories of climate change and migration together on a map and app. From Department of Digital Humanities at King’s College London.

May 28
The COVID-19 Pandemic Narrative – What Stories Do We Tell?: How society talks about an infectious disease has serious consequences. Duke Science & Society and our panel of experts discussed how we tell the story of the COVID-19 pandemic and why the language we use and the stories we tell matter. Watch the recording.

May 28
How To Run Your Freelance Business Like a Pro During the Pandemic: In this Writers' Co-op event, co-hosts Wudan Yan, SEJ member, and Jenni Gritters, along with lawyer-turned-journalist KJ Yossman and media lawyer Jeremy Eggleton, talked about the challenges freelance writers face in protecting their time and business in an ever-changing, fast paced assignment cycle exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Q&A followed.

May 27
Complex Emergencies and Climate Change in the Era of COVID-19: How should reporters cover the connections between climate change and disasters like heatwaves, hurricanes and floods? How can journalists assess and communicate governments' ability to respond effectively, in the midst of a global pandemic? And what about the knock-on effects of failure to address complex emergencies, such as unplanned migration or civil conflict? The second #SEJ2020 webinar panelists offered tips on understanding and covering complex emergencies, in the United States and the rest of the world. Details and recording.

May 26
Cities After COVID-19: Rethinking How and Where We Live, Work, Shop, Play and Learn: Part of the York University (Toronto) Schulich School of Business COVID-19 webinar series. Proximity and density drive economic productivity and innovation in the modern economy and are viewed as essential to improving environmental sustainability of cities. Distancing, however, is leading to a re-evaluation of concentration that could radically alter location, transportation, space usage, social infrastructure and city design decisions. How might the intersection of health and environmental concerns, economic forces and technological innovations reshape cities, and what policy levers can be pulled to ensure we take the “right” path? Watch the recording.

May 26
Journalism and the Pandemic: How is #COVID19 Transforming Journalism? The effects of COVID-19 are already being framed as an “extinction event” for journalism, causing dozens of news outlets to collapse around the world. ICFJ and the Tow Center have launched a global survey to track and assess the impacts of the pandemic on journalism worldwide, and to help reimagine its future. This webinar officially launched the study. Speakers identified and debated the key challenges confronting journalism at a transformative moment and considered the prospects for recovery. First in a series of webinars from ICFJ/Tow's Journalism and the Pandemic Project. Watch the recording.

May 26
Resilience and Adaptation: Civil Society and the Corona Crisis: The current pandemic has forced civil society to grapple with new challenges. The spread of COVID-19 has led some communities to develop new ways to look after each other – and respect social distancing guidelines. In other areas, the social fabric has been tested. Experts and practitioners Nina Lemmens and Daniela Kaisth discussed the ways in which civil society is coping with the current crisis and how the philanthropic community is responding. Hosted by American Council on Germany and 1014. Watch the recording.

May 21
Hope in the Midst of Crises — COVID-19, Climate Action and Faith Webinar: Do you wonder what COVID-19 can teach us about addressing the climate crisis? Or how Christians can respond? Earthkeepers' webinar texplored these questions from ecological, economic, political and faith perspectives, alongside like-minded people. Part one of a three-part series.

May 21
Energy, Resilience and COVID-19: Discussing Tech that Enables Resilient Electrical Infrastructure — Pivoting in 2020 (Webinar #3). We explored what COVID-19 has exposed about our national electrical infrastructure and shared predictions for future maintenance and alternate sources for reliance. Third in a series from the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University. Watch the recording.

May 20
Innovation in Sustainable Food Supply Chains: This webinar examined how food gets from farm to consumer, giving insights into possible impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains. Research suggests various operational and innovative approaches to both help create more resilient supply chains post-COVID and reduce the carbon associated with e-commerce and deliveries. From Connected Places Catapult, with presentations by speakers from Cranfield University and University of Leeds in the UK. Details and recording.

May 20
Data Analytics During the COVID-19 Pandemic: See how big data is being used during the pandemic and look at some of the interesting trends that have been uncovered as a result of lock-down measures being enforced. The webinar explored how the NHS, Facebook, Google and other big corporations are using big data and analytics to track, predict and protect against the coronavirus. Q&A to followed. From Belfast Metropolitan College's Centre for Economic Development and Social Inclusion.

May 19
Talking Shop: Climate Change Reporting in a Post-Pandemic World. With the coronavirus dominating headlines, how can media organizations also do justice to the even bigger story of climate change? Co-hosted by Covering Climate Now and Reuters. Panelists included CCNow Executive Director Mark Hertsgaard of The Nation, Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson, senior editor Special Projects and The Wider Image at Reuters, and Jane Spencer, deputy editor of The Guardian US. Matthew Green, climate correspondent at Reuters, moderated. Summary and recording.

May 19
Writing Through: The Power of Details in a Pandemic: Washington Post reporter Jessica Contrera and Indiana University professor Kelley Benham French discussed how to consistently collect and select compelling details that evoke emotion and help convey the impact of coronavirus on people's lives; learn to identify the moments that compel readers toward a story's purpose; and hear how to connect the reporting & writing process with our collective ability to understand what this pandemic means. Video and recap.

May 18
Ecological Health, Public Health, and Security: Part of George Mason University's Institute for a Sustainable Earth pandemic webinar series. Mason's Tom Lovejoy, Senior Fellow of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, United Nations Foundation, moderated speakers from Mason's departments of Environmental Science and Policy, Global and Community Health, and the US National Intelligence Council. Watch the recording (available soon).

May 18
Biodiversity Loss and Wildlife: Preventing the Next Pandemic: A discussion on the intersection of biodiversity loss, the global wildlife trade and the emergence of infectious diseases, moderated by SEJ member Todd Reubold, Associate Director, UMN Institute on the Environment, and Publisher, Ensia. Watch the recording.

May 15
Big, If True Webinar: The Trouble With Science: While trust in our politicians and the press has waned in recent years, trust in scientists has remained remarkably steady. However, as we chart out new uncertainties and complex facts and figures in a pandemic, we wonder: is trust in science eroding? How are science journalists and educators dispelling misinformation and tempering fear? Why don't facts go viral on social media? And, what resources and platforms can help marshal facts and good science? BIG, If True host Joan Donovan, along with Jane Hu, a regular contributor to Slate's Future Tense, and Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown, co-creators of AsapSCIENCE, will discuss the role of science communication in helping the general public steer a safe course against pseudoscience and misinformation. Watch the recording.

May 14
Where Deforestation and Disease Collide: Sustainability and COVID-19 in the Brazilian Amazon: The Brazil Institute, in partnership with the Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program, hosted an update on the situation in Manaus, followed by a conversation on the impact of COVID-19 on deforestation and sustainability in the Brazilian Amazon, and the implications this could have for us all. Resources and recording.

May 14
Covering Disasters: Wildfire Season 2020. COVID-19 and social distancing are complicating preparations for and responses to extreme weather and disasters, including wildfires. Climate Central and the International Association of Emergency Managers held this online workshop to prepare journalists and meteorologists for reporting on local emergency planning efforts during wildfires, with particular needs during the pandemic. Resources and recording.

May 14
While No One Was Watching: Changing Environmental Regulations Under the Trump Administration:
During more than three years in office, President Trump has attempted to undo dozens of environmental regulations. That effort has taken on a new dimension during the pandemic. In a move that environmental groups call reckless, the Administration has ordered a stop to enforcement of many of its environmental and health protections. SEJ and the Earth Institute of Columbia University co-sponsored a discussion of what has happened, and what it means, moderated by SEJ member/Earth Institute's Dale Willman. Blog post and recording.

May 13
Media Sustainability in the Age of COVID-19 – and Beyond: How can media organizations – for-profit, nonprofit and public – develop better strategies for sustainability in the face of the pandemic? What models for diversifying revenue should they consider? What will happen once the crisis has subsided? Zoom panel with ICFJ Knight Fellows SembraMedia co-founder Janine Warner and PROTO co-founder Nasr ul Hadi, along with Marketing Strategy Consultant Lissa Cupp, moderated by David Maas, IJNet Manager. Watch the recording.

May 13
Teaching Journalism Under COVID-19: Wits Journalism staff and panelists Dr Nancy Booker, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, and Jeff Jarvis, Leonard Tow Professor of Journalism Innovation, CUNY, explored: How are j-schools adapting to the pandemic? The job market is shrinking further as the news media suffer devastating economic blows – what does this mean for students’ future prospects? How do professional development courses need to change? Journalists’ relationship with audiences is changing, and we have to rethink the role of journalism as such. What are the implications for all kinds of journalism education? Watch the recording. Other Wits COVID-19 webinar recordings.

May 11
The Role of News Organisations, Social Media and Fake News Analysis in Times: Technological challenges and lessons for media players and policy makers presented in the crisis of COVID-19. From Vrije Universiteit Brussel's Artificial Intelligence Lab.

May 8
Case Study in COVID-19 Responses — Lessons Learned from Sweden: ICFJ and the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C., held a Q&A webinar with Dr. Anders Tegnell, the state epidemiologist of the Public Health Agency of Sweden, to hear about the pros and cons of Sweden's unconventional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderated by ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan. Watch the recording.

May 6
Covering Coronavirus: What the Data Tells Us: Part of the USC Annenberg/Center for Health Journalism webinar series on covering COVID-19.  Kaiser Health News data editor Liz Lucas looked broadly at the changing landscape of data on COVID-19, and specifically at data sources that can aid informed, in-depth reporting on the overall trend of the pandemic, the infrastructure needed to survive it, and the people most vulnerable to it. Also discussed — what data exists nationally, and what data you should pursue locally. Watch the recording.

May 5
Censorship: Getting Past Reporting Roadblocks in the Time of COVID-19: How public is public information? How can reporters and editors deal with public information officers, and others, who put barriers between the audience and primary sources? Paul Fletcher, publisher of Virginia Lawyers Weekly; Frank LoMonte, director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information; and veteran Washington reporter Kathryn Foxhall discussed this vital, worsening problem. Coverage and resources.

May 5
COVID-19, Climate Justice, and Communities of Color. What’s Next?: Grist and Ensia presented a live online conversation asking — What are the connections between the environment, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color hit hardest by the coronavirus? How are frontline communities responding? What does the future of climate justice now look like? And more. Watch the recording.

May 4
It Takes A Journalist: A Free Press Is Even More Vital in the Age of COVID-19: To mark World Press Freedom Day, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C., featured three distinguished journalists, who have worked in democratic countries — and in those where media freedom is restricted. Summary and recording.

May 4
Covering Coronavirus: How To Be an Antiracist: Part of the National Press Club Journalism Institute webinar series. Ibram X. Kendi, New York Times-bestselling author and Founding Director of The Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University, and Robert Samuels, Washington Post national reporter, discussed disparities in coronavirus coverage and how to overcome them. Moderated by POLITICO's Shannon Young, followed by Q&A with participants. Watch the recording.

May 4
Freedom of the Press in the US in Times of COVID-19: To commemorate World Press Freedom Day, Fundamedios hosted this e-forum in coordination with UNESCO's aim to promote an independent and fearless journalism. Panelists discussed Freedom of the Press challenges in the US, moderated by Frank LaRue, former UN Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Event summary. Watch the recording.

May 1
Looking More Closely at Evidence for COVID-19 Coverage: It’s difficult to evaluate new evidence in the middle of the crisis. Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) heard from journalists that they need more guidance on how to evaluate the latest numbers, research and statistics on COVID-19's spread. Investigative reporter Matt Kauffman, from SJN's Positive Deviance data project, and Cheryl Phillips, director of Big Local News at Stanford looked at a new database created by Kauffman to track disparities in how COVID-19 impacts communities, and the ways journalists can use this database for solutions journalism and, woven into that, why it will be hard to get data now about the value of responses. But also what data sources to watch as time goes on. Watch the recording.

April 30
SPJNE Zoom Series — a conversation with Bill Keller: SPJ New England, the New England Society of News Editors and the New England Newspaper & Press Association held a chat with Bill Keller, former executive editor of the New York Times and founding editor of the Marshall Project, about how the media has covered the COVID-19 crises, the stakes for democracy and how the two intersect.

April 29
Evaluating Evidence in Solutions During a Pandemic: Now, more than ever, there is a need for rigorous reporting on what’s working to address the spread and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Solutions journalism offers a framework for solid reporting on local responses and a detailed examination of what can be learned from other communities facing the same challenges. Solutions Journalism Network's Linda Shaw, editorial director, and Michelle Faust Raghavan, west coast region manager, shared tips and tools for reporters. Watch the recording.

April 29
Covering Coronavirus: Are You Listening to Your Community? Part of the USC Annenberg/Center for Health Journalism webinar series on covering COVID-19. Few outlets have been as nimble and innovative as Southern California Public Radio under Community Engagement Director Ashley Alvarado. Alvarado shared ideas on how outlets of all sizes can better serve their audiences with innovative methods for listening and generating story ideas. Alvarado manages a team that has personally answered close to 2,000 reader questions, that is sending 10,000 mailers to low-internet neighborhoods, creating digital support groups and more. Video and slides.

April 27
COVID-19: Health, Science and Business Writers on Covering the Pandemic: The Power Shift Project hosted a free webinar, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, with Freedom Forum fellow Jill Geisler debriefing leaders of journalism organizations whose members focus on health, science and the economic impact of COVID-19, now and in the future. Speakers included SEJ executive director Meaghan Parker and SEJ president Meera Subramanian. Video and resources.

April 27, 29, May 1, 6
COVID-19 in Context: News Coverage and News Literacy in Uncertain Times. The University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute and the News Literacy Project partnered to present this four-part webinar series  exploring one of the most urgent science communication challenges of our lives through the insights of journalists, news literacy education experts, and scientists.

April 27
Flexing Your Freelance Skills During COVID-19: SPJ's New England PRO Chapter co-hosted a discussion on ways to freelance during the coronavirus pandemic. Freelancer (and SEJ member) Wudan Yan, an independent Seattle journalist who writes about science, health and the environment, joined editor Chris Faraone, co-founder of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, in a discussion about freelancing during a global pandemic.

April 24
COVID-19: Immunity and Contact Tracing: This SciLine media briefing covered some of the factors and approaches being considered as part of the US's longer-term COVID-19 planning, including herd immunity, serology testing and contact tracing. Panelists: Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, Boston University School of Medicine and Dr. Crystal Watson, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; moderated by SciLine Director Rick Weiss. Open only to members of the media. Video and transcript.

April 24
Climate Change and Coronavirus Panel: The Princeton Environmental Activism Coalition's Zoom panel will ask tough questions and feature speakers Stephen Pacala, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology professor, Princeton University and co-director, Carbon Mitigation Initiative; Kian Mintz-Woo, Princeton's University Center for Human Values and the Princeton Environmental Institute; and SEJ president Meera Subramanian, independent journalist and Princeton's Barron Visiting Professor in the Environment and the Humanities. Coverage.

April 23
Flattening the Infodemic With Jevin West: The COVID-19 crisis has generated a wave of misinformation that is undermining trust in the media and government institutions. Knight Foundation chief program officer Sam Gill spoke with Jevin West of the University of Washington about the “infodemic” accompanying this public health emergency. West, who directs the Knight-supported Center for an Informed Public at UW, was described by Wired as one of “The Professors Who Call B******t on COVID-19 Misinformation.” Watch the recording.

April 22
Covering the Crisis: Street Reporting Without the Street: In this webinar, USC Annenberg digital journalism expert Amara Aguilar provided a hands-on tour of tools, resources for health reporters working remotely, and offered tips for reporting on hard-to-reach communities. Video and slides.

April 22
Wildlife Trade: From Tiger King to COVID-19: Wilson Center NOW hosts SEJ member Sharon Guynup, an author, journalist and Wilson Global Fellow as she describes the two-year investigation into the "tiger tourism" industry she and photographer Steve Winter conducted for National Geographic. The Netflix hit series "Tiger King" tells part of the same story, but Guynup says it fails to expose the dark underbelly of exotic animal trade where the tigers and other often rare and endangered species are the true victims. The discussion also connects the dots between wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases, explaining the underlying risks that created the conditions for COVID-19 to emerge.

April 20
Covering the Pandemic: Photographers on the Front Lines: Photographers from Magnum Photos and the National Press Photographers Association discussed working during the pandemic – the risks, and how to stay safe. Judith Matloff, who presented at a recent SEJ workshop, spoke about dealing with the stress from such coverage. Noon ET. Blog post and webinar recording.

April 20
Ground Truth Briefing | Unpacking COVID-19 and the Connections Between Ecosystem, Animal, and Human Health and Security: The Wilson Center hosted a phone conversation with experts — including SEJ member Sharon Guynup — who have been tracking the connections between animal, ecosystem, human health, and security, and what steps policymakers need to take to mitigate the next global pandemic. Audio recording and quotes.

April 20
How Strikes and Community Coalitions Can Address the Crises We Are Facing: Journalists may be interested in this webinar about how a property service union in Minnesota, representing 4,000 janitors who clean corporate office buildings, went on strike with support of environmental justice groups during their recent contract fight. Their lessons learned can be applied to our current moment, when bargaining for the common good is a tool we all need to address a global pandemic and economic crisis. Presented by The Leap. Watch the recording.

April 18
Virtual Coffee Break for Journalists: SPJ Houston invited journalists to join us via Zoom teleconferencing for a chance to share how you're feeling these days. How are you getting through the coronavirus pandemic? What issues are you facing working from home and/or covering your beat while maintaining social distance? How is the economic downturn impacting you? This semi-moderated discussion will be an opportunity for camaraderie, networking, and sharing ways to cope.

April 16
How You Can Use Data To Fight COVID-19: data.world is home to the most up-to-date and trusted open data on COVID-19. We want to show you how to use it for research and analysis. Join this webinar to learn how the world's largest data community — with thousands of scientists, analysts, researchers, and business-people — are working together to track trends, find clues, and share insights. The Associated Press will also provide a first-hand look at how their network of data journalists access and apply data to create compelling reporting. You'll also get access to the actual pandemic datasets informing news stories around the world. Noon ET. Watch the recording.

April 16
Solutions Journalism 101: Covering the Coronavirus Outbreak in Europe
The Solutions Journalism Network has resources to help you rigorously cover promising responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar highlighted stories from Europe, covering responses to the pandemic with Lucie Cerna of Transitions. Includes Q&A with guest Mark Rice-Oxley, head of special projects at the Guardian. Watch the recording.

April 14
Good News From Bad News: What the COVID-19 Crisis Can Teach Us About Future Climate Change Calamities: John Schwartz, a reporter on the climate desk at The New York Times, joined Claudia Dreifus, Columbia University SPS Lecturer in Professional Studies and contributor to the Times Science section, for a virtual conversation about how lessons learned in the COVID-19 pandemic could prove useful in mitigating the effects of climate change-related disasters. Watch the recording.

April 13
Knowing the News: Media Literacy in the Age of COVID-19: Access to accurate information is an integral component of free expression and essential to public health and civic engagement, especially during a pandemic rife with both misinformation and disinformation. Media literacy has become a chillingly vital prerequisite to responsibly consume information about the illness amid the constant threat of COVID-19 disinformation. Webinar sessions of 'Knowing the News' are PEN America's response to the problem of disinformation. Note: Watch PEN webinars live; recordings are not available.

April 10
Science Communication in the Time of Coronavirus: This free live webinar/panel discussion is part of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society's new series “Coronavirus Conversations.” Panelists included science writers/journalists (Maryn McKenna and Sheril Kirshenbaum) and science/risk communication experts (Dominique Brossard and Dietram Scheufele) talking about the current SciComm challenges and successes with respect to COVID-19, as well as answering your questions. Watch the recording.

April 10
COVID-19 Crisis: Economic Relief for Freelance Journalists: This free SPJ Freelance Committee webinar explained how new federal programs enacted in March can help U.S. freelance journalists whose businesses have taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quill Editor Lou Harry moderated. Panelists Matt Apodaca, executive vice president of NCH Tax and Wealth Advisors, and Gerri Detweiler, credit expert and education director of  nav.com, discussed how independent journalists can tap into programs provided through legislation, regulations and guidance issued by the U.S. government since early March. Watch the recording.

April 8
After the Pandemic: Health Care In Crisis: The pandemic has laid bare the poor condition of health systems around the world and shows that health care as a human right remains elusive for many people. The current health crisis is severely affecting low-income communities and people of color. And that won’t end when the pandemic does – the health impacts of climate change will keep those challenges alive. What steps must be taken now to protect those most vulnerable? A discussion for journalists, from Columbia University's Earth Institute and the Resilience Media Project, moderated by RMP associate director Dale Willman. Blog post and webinar recording.

April 8
Covering Coronavirus: A Top Reporter's Daily Routine: Part of the USC Annenberg/Center for Health Journalism webinar series on covering COVID-19. Lisa Krieger, science and medicine reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, shares how she stays on top of the story every day, with immediately actionable tips that will bolster your own coverage. Video and slides from Krieger's presentation.

April 8
COVID-19: Taking Care of Journalists and Journalism: The Power Shift Project hosted a free webinar with Freedom Forum fellow Jill Geisler debriefing leaders of the top professional journalism organizations, including the Institute for Nonprofit News; Investigative Reporters and Editors; Local Independent Online News Publishers; Local Media Association; National Press Photographers Association; News Leaders Association; Online News Association; OpenNews; Radio Television Digital News Association; Society for News Design; and Society of Professional Journalists. Panelists discussed covering the coronavirus pandemic while caring for dedicated teams. Recap, video and resources.

April 8
Media Briefing: Disaster Reporting and COVID-19: Climate Central and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) held an online briefing on April 8, 2020, to help journalists report on local emergency planning efforts during the pandemic and to cover disasters effectively and safely when they occur. Our experts discussed a wide variety of disasters, including hurricanes, heat waves, tornadoes, flooding and wildfires.

April 3
Finding COVID-19 Data and Responsible Context: Panelists from ProPublica, The Washington Post, the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University and Stanford's Big Local News discussed where journalists can find accurate data about COVID-19, shared advice for using the data within larger context responsibly and ways to deliver that information to communities in easily understandable formats for the greatest impact. Co-hosted by IRE and Reynolds Journalism Institute. Recording and tipsheet.

April 2
The Relationship Between the Environment and the Coronavirus: This free online webinar featured speakers from Louisiana State University's School of Public Health in New Orleans (a hotspot for coronavirus in the U.S.) among other LSU experts. Watch the recording.

April 2
Covering a Crisis: Climate, Coronavirus and Global (In)Action: How should the media cover a crisis? SEJ's 2020 webinar series launched with a discussion of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that could inform how journalists, scientists and advocates communicate about and address climate change. Panelists: Denis Hayes, The Earth Day Network and The Bullitt Foundation; Alice Hill, Council on Foreign Relations; and John Mecklin, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, moderated by Guardian US' Emily Holden. Video/audio recordings and coverage.

April 1
The Press and the Pandemic: Internews' Earth Journalism Network (EJN) offered an exclusive interactive workshop for journalists with veteran epidemic reporter Laurie Garrett. Archived on Facebook, YouTube, Periscope.

April 1
Fighting for Open Records During the COVID-19 Crisis: Co-hosted by IRE and RCFP. Panelists discussed specific records to ask for to investigate coronavirus response at all levels of government, and resources to help push back against agencies that say they can't fill requests during this crisis. Speakers: Adam Marshall and Gunita Singh, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Jason Leopold, BuzzFeed News; hosted by Denise Malan of IRE. Watch the recording or view the crowdsourced tipsheet.

March 30, 2020
Reporting on COVID-19/Tips from the Front Lines: From saying goodbye to social engagements to grappling with fear for our loved ones, the COVID-19 pandemic has catapulted most of us far outside our comfort zones. That’s true, too, for journalists trying to grapple with multi-faceted and rapidly changing scientific information. To lend a hand, three prominent science writers took to social media last week, offering their expertise in the form of a Reddit discussion panel. Carl Zimmer of the New York Times, Helen Branswell of STAT and Laura Helmuth of the Washington Post (soon to be editor-in-chief at Scientific American) discussed which coronavirus experts and writers to follow on Twitter, how they vet expert sources and how to tackle technical details in a way the public can easily understand. Above all, the group urged transparency to give readers the best tools to follow rapidly changing developments and draw their own informed conclusions.

March 27, 2020
After the Pandemic: Designing a Just and Resilient Economy for All: The current pandemic has shown the immense brittleness and vulnerability of the world’s economy. Economic recovery is one of the biggest long-term stories facing journalists, and the world, right now. The conversation took place 12-1:30 p.m. EDT with ecological economist Jon Erickson, University of Vermont; social economist Juliet Schor, Boston College; and interdisciplinary scholar Nate Hagens, Post Carbon Institute. The conversation will be moderated by Dale Willman, award-winning journalist and Associate Director of the new Resilience Media Project at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Read the event summary and watch the recording.

 

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