COVID-19
To address the critical situation faced by the media, the members of Parliament’s culture committee have asked the European Commission to look into creating an emergency fund for the media and press.
The Association of Independents in Radio ( AIR) proposes as well a guide that gathers information to help make responsible decisions and do great work during the pandemic (last updated on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.)
The COVID-19 emergency fund is specifically geared by the Free Press Unlimited to assist media professionals from African countries severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis and for emergency situations related to COVID-19.
Freelancers Union's fund to support freelancers impacted by COVID-19.
Internews provides, with the COVID-19 Resources and Guides, tools for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic including addressing misinformation, reporting while social distancing, and working with refugee communities.
The National Geographic Society is launching an emergency fund for journalists all over the world who wish to cover COVID-19 within their own communities. This fund will place particular emphasis on delivering news to underserved populations, particularly where there is a dearth of evidence-based information getting to those who need it. We are interested in local and even hyper-local distribution models.
The fund is distributing support ranging from $1,000–8,000 USD for local coverage of the preparation, response, and impact of this global pandemic as seen through evidence-based reporting. Beyond reporting on medical and physical health related to COVID-19, the organisation especially encourage reporting that covers social, emotional, economic, and equity issues.
See more information on our entry on the National Geographic Society in the Emergency funding section.
UNESCO is the UN agency with a specific mandate to promote “free flow of ideas by word and image”. It welcomes the immense efforts of communication and information communities to tackle the current COVID-19 crisis, including:
- sharing lifesaving information, debunking misinformation,
- strengthening the implementation of the fundamental right to information,
- leveraging the use of public interest media, ICTs and OER for e-learning, and connecting people online.
UNESCO is closely monitoring the impact of this crisis on media freedom, safety of journalists, and the fundamental right to access information.
In a context of unprecedented challenges for the media and digital technology sectors, UNESCO has created a “resource center” of selected responses to COVID-19.
It includes a collection of examples of actions related to communication and information made available for the purpose of:
- sharing practices,
- identifying priorities,
- facilitating partnerships,
- amplifying good practices,
- providing advice and technical assistance to governments and relevant national stakeholders, and
- fostering North-South, South-South, and triangular cooperation.
This “clearing house” provides a non-exhaustive list of illustrative examples. It will continue to evolve with the COVID-19 pandemic and the quick development of responses.
Some of these initiatives have been led or directly supported by UNESCO. They are labeled with an asterisk (*). Others are implemented by official partners or other relevant stakeholders.
For questions, comments, and information on additional initiatives please write to: [email protected]
Last modified 1yr ago