How "technology has been absolutely crucial" for journalists during the Coronavirus outbreak

Technology is hugely important in the world of journalism, now more than ever. The current global pandemic that is COVID-19 has brought a very sudden pause to the lives of many, and forced everyone who can, to work from home to prevent further spread of the virus. But what does this mean for the journalists who still have a duty to deliver news stories?

“Technology has been absolutely crucial during the coronavirus outbreak…” Phil Norris, the breaking news editor of Gloucestershire Live explains.

“…it’s enabled journalists to continue to write and get their content published for people to read. There are no journalists working in the Gloucestershire Live offices. Everyone, from the editor to newsdesk and reporters are working from home.”

At a time when the world is facing so much uncertainty, the news is vital for communication. Although newsrooms may be temporarily closed, different forms of technology have made it possible for journalists to operate and provide us with the information we need.

“We have regular online hangouts where we can chat about our days, work out that day’s news agenda, and plan our content.” Phil says, about the importance of video-calling his colleagues.

Fortunately, there are countless modes of technology that exist to ensure that journalists can still provide quality journalism, by putting together an engaging story for their readers, viewers and listeners. Video-calling software has become an essential form of communication for journalists to be able to discuss their ideas and output, and even to converse with key interviewees. In an article by the Mail Online, data from Apptopia showed ‘Zoom’s daily active user base grew by 67% since early January.’

Other video-calling software such as Microsoft Teams and Slack have also seen an increase of usage since the global lockdown.

Such software would not have such a huge effect without mobile technology, however.

Mobile technology has impacted journalism massively, as reporters are able to create, edit and publish material straight from their portable devices. Mobile phones and laptops have made it easy for journalists to work efficiently from the comfort of their own homes while carrying out tasks that they otherwise would have in the newsroom.

"Technology like mobile phones, the internet and social media has made journalism a hell of a lot easier in my view." Explains Claire Maxted, co-founder and former editor of Trail Running magazine.

"It’s so easy now to research most things, contact the right experts straight away and reach or get feedback from the general public."

Although technology has majorly benefited journalists during the Coronavirus outbreak, it was a massive hit beforehand too, as it has made finding stories and interviewees a lot more efficient.

Using a smartphone allows journalists to report from the scene of important news stories using just one device. Before, journalists would have needed a crew of people to pull off a great news story, but the power of mobile technology has made it possible that a single person can take on various roles at once.

“It’s also fantastically easy to take good quality photos and videos on smartphones so you can create a story so quickly with fewer expert skills. It’s a lot easier and more connected, and I much prefer it this way.” Claire explains.

The constant evolution of smartphones bring us bigger and better features each time they are released. From the first-generation Apple iPhone which had a mere 2-megapixels, to the newest iPhone 11 Pro which has a triple-camera system, the quality of content that journalists can produce using a Mobile Journalism (MoJo) kit is so outstanding that it can be used for TV bulletins without viewers noticing the difference.

Mobile technology has also been extremely convenient in reaching journalists' audiences, to receive both feedback and criticism.

"Getting in contact with readers [before technology] was so patchy! Actual hand-written letters and printed photographs were received in response to various articles but often they didn’t include a return address so you couldn’t get back in touch, and if they did that was a very slow way of corresponding. You had to ask someone if they had an email address and even then they may not check it more than weekly!”

Social media has completely changed the way that journalists communicate with their audiences, and how they distribute stories online. Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are used by news sites and journalists to promote their news to a wider audience, as according to Ofcom, nearly half of British adults get their news from social media.

Many people will scroll through their social newsfeed and come across a story that they may not have looked for purposely on a website. They will then click on the link if the story entices them, taking them straight to the news website that had published it.

News outlets will often write a teaser on their Twitter accounts or Facebook posts, persuading the viewer to click on the link and read the full article. Through social media, readers are also able to express their views in the comment sections and engage with the journalists who wrote the stories, as well as other readers.

Claire believes this has a positive effect on journalism. "Social media has completely altered everyone’s relationships with each other, journalists’ relationships with the general public and with other journalists. Everyone is very much more connected, if they wish to be. It allows journalists to support and befriend other journalists, and to see emerging news trends, opinion, groups and personalities online."

Levana Hayes, a journalist from the Swindon Advertiser shares her experience of working from home, and believes that social media has been a real asset during the Coronavirus outbreak.

"I think social media now is more important because there are still people getting in touch with us, obviously we're all working from home so we're not getting the calls that we usually would. We're focusing and relying on social media more because it's really our only source at the moment."

Social media can have its downfalls, though, as 'fake news' can spread like wildfire. Many people don't properly fact-check the news that they see, and share it on their platforms for hundreds more people to believe. This has been an issue for news outlets for around 6-years, and it continues during the global pandemic that we are all currently facing. A time that is frightening for all.

Technology has greatly benefited the way that journalists work, as it has made their storytelling even more compelling with the use of mobile technology, social media and many more aspects.

The unfortunate crisis that the world is going through now has brought people closer together in some ways, and technology has been the main component for that. Without journalists having access to technology, they would not be able to communicate with each other or members of the public to find stories to write about, or spread news and messages that are helping to prevent the further spread of this disease and potentially save lives.