Journalism not spared from effects of COVID-19

Twenty twenty one has been a tough year for journalism and news media business across the globe. The financial pressures of COVID-19 forced newsrooms to reduce pay and cut jobs.

Fiji has not been spared as the economic impacts of the pandemic hit. News media staff have taken pay cuts, and some are still on them.

Those who have continued to do their work are doing so under more challenging circumstances - whether working from home with additional family responsibilities or having to take extra care with personal safety in the workplace or in the field, with masks, physical distancing, and other precautions. The challenges are many and varied.

Another common thread across the globe is the attack on journalists via emails and social media.

Through it all, journalists have shown resilience to keep the public informed in these unusual times. Innovation has also emerged.

At least that’s the key word being touted by academics and media experts to help journalism get back on its feet.

And this too comes in various forms and not just the latest tech or new shiny thing.

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2021 highlighted some of the following:

Trust in the news has grown

The use of social media for news remains strong, especially with younger people and those with lower levels of education.

Mainstream news brands and journalists attract most attention.

We have seen significant increases in payment for online news in a small number of richer western countries, but the overall percentage of people paying for online news remains low.

Access to news continues to become more distributed.

More widely, the use of smartphone for news (73 per cent) has grown at its fastest rate for many years, with dependence also growing through Coronavirus lockdowns.

For Fiji’s competitive market, these observations from developed nations can help position ourselves for a sustainable future.

At the same time Fiji’s traditional news media, newspapers especially, have remained relevant and resilient. It is testimony to the commitment of those who work in them and those who publish them.

ROSI DOVIVERATA

Feedback: rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj