USC Center for Health Journalism launches new 'Covering Coronavirus' webinar series
It’s already been called the story of our lifetime, and it’s moving with a speed and ferocity that makes it exceedingly hard for reporters to cover. Yet audiences everywhere are desperate for updates and accurate information amid a growing backdrop of fear and uncertainty. Journalists, meanwhile, have told us in conversations and surveys that they are seeking ways to get beyond breaking news to tell deeper stories on an unfamiliar topic.
So, how do we sort through this overwhelming rush of sometimes contradictory information? Today we’re launching “Covering Coronavirus,” a special webinar series that will provide urgent tips, resources and insights for anyone tracking the COVID-19 pandemic.
In our Wednesday series, you’ll hear how a top reporter goes about her morning routine, how a digital journalism ace finds fresh sources online when street reporting is no longer an option, and how a leading palliative care doctor is helping to define an ethical course around life-and-death decisions likely to be overwhelming hospitals every day. Click on the links below and sign up today! And stay tuned for more. We also welcome your ideas on topics you are most interested in learning about more deeply. Have an idea? Write us at editor@centerforhealthjournalism.org.
Meanwhile, here's our starting line-up:
April 8: Covering Coronavirus: A Top Reporter’s Daily Routine Unpublished
Lisa Krieger, science and medicine reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, has reported a vast trove of essential stories since late January, covering every angle of the spreading outbreak from testing debacles to the most promising potential new treatments. In this webinar, Krieger will share how she stays on top of the story every day, with immediately actionable tips that will bolster your own coverage.
April 15: Covering Coronavirus: Life and Death Decisions
As the COVID-19 crisis sweeps the nation, we’ll look at the hard decisions hospitals must make, and what questions journalists should ask health systems to gauge their preparedness on rationing care and do-not-resuscitate orders. Palliative care specialist and author Dr. Sunita Puri will join the Center for Health Journalism for a moderated discussion.
April 22: Covering Coronavirus: Street Reporting Without the Street
Digital journalism expert Amara Aguilar will provide a hands-on tour of at least three tools, provide resources for health reporters working remotely, and offer tips for reporting on hard-to-reach communities.
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