Media industry adapts as Covid-19 rages

THE media industry has not been spared by the Covid-19 pandemic which has forced journalists to be innovative in gathering and reporting stories.

Speaking during a three-day Zimbabwe New Media Summit Zoom meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Centre for Media and Information Literacy (ZCMIL) that kicked off yesterday, Mr Peter Mwesige from the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) said during the Covid-19 era journalists have been forced to operate under a restricted environment while producing equally good content.

He said this has seen a rise in Zoom and WhatsApp interviews among other initiatives.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated what was already a precarious situation for journalism and the news media in Africa. It continues to pose an existential threat to a media industry that was already under immense stress from the disruption unleashed by the digital revolution and the rise of social media as major sources of news for millions of people.

“Rapidly falling newspaper circulation exacerbated by Government restrictions on movement in response to the pandemic and the substantial dip in advertising revenue caused by the significant slowdown in the economic activity has left media houses on their knees.

“Covid-19 has also accelerated long overdue changes in the media industry and forced journalists, editors, managers and entrepreneurs alike to embrace innovation,” he said.

“Covid-19 has also come with silver linings, one of them being the growth of online news audiences and trust in media organisations especially in the early months of the pandemic last year. Although journalists were declared or treated as essential workers their movement was severely restricted and many had to work from home.

“Within a short time, many African journalists embraced new ways of engaging sources and delivering content. Journalists are now relying on Zoom interviews or WhatsApp clips that are played on air,” he said.

Mr Mwesige said the increase in consumption of online news could be attributed to interest in information about Covid-19 and probably people having more spare time due to lockdowns of restrictions on movement.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the need for journalism innovation. Mr Mwesige said it was however concerning that the African continent still remained behind in innovation.

“There is need for media organisations to leverage technology in story telling such as podcasts, YouTube videos, data visualisation and relevant archival content. Media owners and managers must embrace technology in its entirety. In all this change quality journalism remains key. People will look out for content that is relevant, compelling and engaging,” he said.

e summit is being held under the theme “Re-imagining Journalism and Democracy in Times of Crises.” It was attended by media practitioners from various media houses.—@ DubeMatutu