RJI COVID-19 resources

Google News Initiative provides tools for journalists covering the COVID-19, including fact-check explorer, coronavirus search trends, Flourish- data visualization and online training to use the tools.

KSJ provides and aggregated list of reporting tips and tools to help reporters find and use accurate information to report on the coronavirus.

GIJN provides reporters and news organizations tips and resources, in 12 languages, for covering the corona virus and minimizing impact on media businesses.

The widget is three lines of code for inserting on a web site that’s made available by “Be A Neighbor” site.

Journalist’ Toolbox by Mike Reilly provides a collection of the latest COVID-19 related resources.

Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Covid Webinars provides access to training webinars: covering COVID-19, reporting from home, fact-checking coronavirus misinformation for all journalists.

RTDNA Coronavirus Reporting Resources provides tools for reporters and tips for their interviewees for broadcasting from home.

• Coronavirus coverage center
• Tips to keep your team safe
• TV Broadcasting from Home webinar recording and other resources
• Trust and engagement tips for coronavirus coverage

Open States strives to improve civic engagement at the state level by providing data and tools regarding state legislatures. They compile current data on legislation relating to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

Topics include news gathering and verification tools, ethics and responsible reporting guidance, a database of debunks of mis- and disinformation, data and information sources, a searchable reading list, FAQs that journalists may have, and links to sign up for video calls on reporting coronavirus. First Draft provides accurate information and data to assist journalists.

AP has created a guide to the usage of coronavirus terms and definitions based on the AP Stylebook and common usage in AP stories.

Create a free account to gain access to a rich bank of open data and a powerful platform for analytics and insights. The data.world community offers up-to-date and trusted open data related to COVID-19. 

The Lenfest Institute's collection of resources to help journalists respond to the challenge of reporting on the coronavirus. 

 Based at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Journalist’s Resource examines news topics, including the coronavirus,  through a research lens, curating and summarizing public policy research relevant to media practitioners, bloggers, educators, students and general readers. Their hope is that journalists, in the course of reporting, will routinely ask this question: What does the research say? 

Up-to-date data by state. The dataset is available as a spreadsheet or via API (JSON and CSV).

Tipsheet provided by journalists participating in the March 3, 2020 RJI webinar: Caroline Chen, ProPublica; Armand Emamdjomeh, The Washington Post; Jennifer LaFleur, American University/The Investigative Reporting Workshop; Cheryl Phillips, Big Local News at Stanford University

In this factsheet, Reuters identifies some of the main types, sources, and claims of COVID-19 misinformation seen so far. We analyse a sample of 225 pieces of misinformation rated false or misleading by fact-checkers and published in English between January and the end of March 2020.

To help with coverage of the new coronavirus disease, called COVID-19, The Associated Press has prepared a guide based on the AP Stylebook and common usage in AP stories.  For more details, follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Advice on reporting on the COVID-19 virus and working to be understood, not just presenting facts. 

Poynter senior faculty Al Tompkins shares a slate of story ideas and context about the coronavirus. In the video, he highlights 20 recent (and a few new) story ideas, adds some fresh context and outlines which types of stories, in general, most resonate with audiences.

Covering tragedy is in every reporter’s job description, starting even on our first days on the job. Tragedy happens, and then journalists cover the fallout. But when covering COVID-19, the traumatic event is not just protracted — it gets worse with time. Reporters covering the coronavirus wrote about the hypothetical and watched it come to fruition. They saw death tolls increase in daily reports, then in their communities. We talked with two journalists who now work in the mental health arena — one conducting research on mental health in journalism, the other coordinating a fellowship program for reporters covering mental health — on how to identify what they’re experiencing and how to manage it.

Journalists get tips on covering college finances amid the coronavirus pandemic and U.S. economic downturn from experts at credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service.

Use these tried-and-tested tips to add solutions journalism to your coronavirus coverage

Covering COVID-19 is a daily Poynter briefing of story ideas about the coronavirus and other timely topics for journalists, written by senior faculty Al Tompkins. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.

Until there’s a vaccine for the new coronavirus, infectious disease professionals point to digital contact tracing as a key way for authorities to safely lift lockdowns and begin cauterizing the economic, mental health and other personal trauma the pandemic is inflicting on millions of people worldwide.

Q and A with health policy expert Julia Raifman, who documented roughly 100 types of policies across every state and the District of Columbia, along with original sources for each policy.

As COVID-19 cases continue to emerge in rural areas of the U.S., rural health care systems will need to respond to the crisis with fewer resources than urban-based hospitals, and for a population that is generally older and sicker than urban populations. Journalists will need to tell their stories.

Medicaid is a United States health insurance program run and funded by states with federal oversight and financial contributions. The total annual federal contributions vary by state, reflecting the differing levels of poverty and states’ decisions about whether to participate in the Medicaid expansion created by the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

Insights from F. Chris Curran, who co-directs the Education Policy Research Center at the University of Florida and conducts research on improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged youth. Curran also serves on the editorial board of the Educational Researcher academic journal.

Experts told us if journalists do these 10 things they will improve their coverage of new coronavirus research based on epidemiological models.

Journalists get tips on covering college finances amid the coronavirus pandemic and U.S. economic downturn from experts at credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service.

The executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists warns that a press crackdown during the coronavirus pandemic could lead to long-term curbs on the global information system.

Journalist's Resource has answers to your questions about covering the coronavirus vaccine. 

The National Geographic Society is launching an emergency fund for journalists who wish to cover COVID-19 within their own communities with particular emphasis on delivering news to underserved populations.

If you’re a professional journalist who has been laid off or furloughed by your news outlet and urgently need assistance, you can apply to receive an interest-free $500 loan, to be repaid in one year. The money will come solely from fellow journalists. The money is a loan, not a donation.

“We are a group of journalists who created a furlough fund for the many, many other journalists who have been temporarily laid off or had their hours reduced across the U.S.  amid the COVID-19 pandemic.” Please donate!

Facebook Journalism Project is providing $100 million investment to support the news industry — $25 million in emergency grant funding for local news through the, and $75 million in additional marketing spend to move money over to news organizations around the world.

IP’s list of funders that support journalism.

NPPA and NPPF are seeking donations to create a relief fund for NPPA photojournalists who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PEN America Writers’ Emergency Fund assists, in times of emergency, those whose main professional pursuit is writing. Please review the eligibility criteria before applying. 

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a non-profit organization that supports independent global journalism, is seeking proposals that develop innovative approaches to reporting on the novel coronavirus crisis using collaboration among journalists and newsrooms across state lines or national borders. This opportunity is open to all newsrooms and independent journalists in the United States and abroad. 

Providing support for independent or freelance photographers affected by coronavirus. Offers assistance of up to $500 per person to self-employed photographers who are facing financial hardship because of the coronavirus. 

The Google News Initiative wants to help journalists impacted by COVID-19 by launching a Journalism Emergency Relief Fund to deliver urgent aid to thousands of small, medium and local news publishers globally. 

The IWMF's Journalism Relief Fund is open to women-identifying journalists in dire straits - journalists who have faced significant financial hardship, lost work, were recently laid off or who urgently need assistance to avoid severe, irreversible outcomes. This fund will provide small grants of up to $2,000 USD per request. However, special consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to those who have greater financial need.

NPPA COVID-19 Resource Guide provides resources for photojournalists, including funding, training and creativity while dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

A virtual town hall for freelancers streamed live on YouTube on April 7, 2020.

Folio Magazine Freelance Journalist Resources provides resources for freelance journalists impacted by COVID-19.

Freelancers Relief Fund will offer financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs, including food/food supplies, utility payments, cash assistance to cover income loss.

FIJ’s board of directors is looking for stories on the coronavirus that break new ground and expose wrongdoing—such as corruption, malfeasance, or abuse of power—in the public and private sectors. FIJ encourages proposals written for ethnic media as well as those submitted by journalists of color and involving the impact of the coronavirus in U.S. ethnic communities. Grants average $5,000 but can be as high as $10,000.  They cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection, and equipment rental. FIJ also considers requests for small stipends.

If you are a professional freelance journalist whose only source of income is from journalism and you have been significantly affected by the pandemic, you may be eligible for a grant from our COVID-19 Hardship Fund.

Providing support for independent or freelance photographers affected by coronavirus. Offers assistance of up to $500 per person to self-employed photographers who are facing financial hardship because of the coronavirus. 

These general tips for visual journalists were created by Jenell Stewart, DO, MPH, Infectious Diseases physician-scientist at University of Washington. Dr. Stewart is married to Peter DiCampo, a visual journalist and cofounder of The Everyday Projects, and she created this guide to help journalists who are struggling with ethical and safety considerations in the current void of job specific information.

Meena Thiruvengadam writes: "As a freelancer during the pandemic, I’ve felt more empowered and secure than I expected. But I’ve had to pivot."

How to manage coronavirus layoffs with compassion by Rebecca Knight,  a freelance journalist in Boston and a lecturer at Wesleyan University.  Her work has been published in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Financial Times.

Tips for managing coronavirus reporting risks by Howard Goldberg who is a project editor in California. He previously was a news manager for Associated Press in New York, Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio.

is an association for local news startups, supports more than 200 independent local news businesses across the country. When coronavirus hit, we knew we needed to offer practical, step-by-step guidance on what our members should do to manage their businesses.

• Three things to do right now to strengthen your local news business during the coronavirus pandemic 

Gallup has long studied how people and workplaces behave during times of crisis. Explore our analytics and advice to learn how to respond swiftly and effectively to COVID-19 disruptions. From best practices on managing remote workers to discoveries on what the world is thinking -- our insights and advice will help you navigate this evolving disruption.

As the impact of COVID-19 intensifies globally, Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning  developed information and resources for L&D and business leaders to help manage their teams and communicate effectively during these challenging and uncertain times. This includes advice on how to maintain productivity, collaboration, and learning among teams that may need to work remotely during this crisis.

Journalist’ Toolbox by Mike Reilly provides a collection of the latest COVID-19 related resources.

he National Association of Science Writers (NASW) has created this list of resources for our members and all others covering the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic. We will update it regularly. All resources were publicly accessible at the time of listing.

AHCJ provides resources and webcasts for health care journalists covering COVID-19.

The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) is the leading professional organization for writers, editors, and other communicators of medical information. AMWA supports evidence- and science-based medicine; the use of clear language to accurately communicate science and medicine to all stakeholders—consumers, health care professionals, regulators, and government officials alike; and the use of objectivity and diligent research in pursuit of accurate and unbiased reporting.

• AMWA Statement on COVID-19 and resources for reporting

NLA aims to foster and develop the highest standards of trustworthy, truth-seeking journalism; to advocate for open, honest and transparent government; to fight for free speech and an independent press; to nurture the next generation of news leaders committed to spreading knowledge that informs democracy. 

• 40+ Fourth Estate Partners Launch Nationwide Campaign to Show Gratitude for Journalists During COVID-19

Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) offers new online training webinars open to all journalists investigating and reporting on COVID-19 related issues.

American Meteorological Society provides resources to their members during the COVD-19 pandemic.

National Press Photographers Association advocates for and provides visual journalists resources, training and funding opportunities.

• NPPA COVID-19 Resource Guide

Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research.  We will be listing links to public opinion research about journalism during the coronavirus crises here:

• As newsrooms face coronavirus-related cuts, 54% of Americans rate media’s response to the outbreak positively
• Cable TV and COVID-19: How Americans perceive the outbreak and view media coverage differ by main news source

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism.

TV Broadcasting from Home webinar recording and other resources

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

Members of IFWTWA share stories on how they, as travelers and travel writers, are handling the pandemic. Many of them quickly wrote and sent me articles, and in this special issue of Food, Wine, Travel Magazine, we present them to you. This may not be the most beautiful issue we’ve put out, but we want you to find not only useful information on what you can do during these trying times but also stories that will tell you what and how others around the world are doing.

Many publishers and content providers have opened some of their resources to assist universities with moving classes to online only.  This guide is a listing of resources with temporary expanded access.

Resources on covering COVID-19 from Poynter.

How journalists are working together to cover the COVID-19 pandemic, an article by Stefanie Murray, director of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University.

Society for Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) It is SABEW’s mission as an independent, non-profit organization to encourage comprehensive reporting of economic events without fear or favoritism and to increase members’ skills and knowledge through continuous education.

Webinar - April 14, 2-3 p.m. EDT: Coronavirus – Covering the Business Impact of the Pandemic

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity and support with all journalists covering this massive story today. As a support organization for women, we have developed resources and tool kits that any journalist can consult. 

The Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin launched a survey asking people what information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic they wanted local news outlets to share. The findings are below:

• Covering Coronavirus: A Snapshot of the Information People Want and What Local Newsrooms are Reporting

A special series on responding to and rebounding from the COVID-19 crunch.

Publishers hope to emerge from the crisis by fortifying brand and user relationships – even if that means accepting short-term pain, writes Alex Brownsell.

Chartbeat is a content intelligence platform for publishers using historical and real-time analytics to analyze customer engagement.

• What happens when coronavirus fatigue sets in? Our latest traffic and engagement analysis

The Nielsen Corporation is a global provider of market research and analyses of media and viewer interactions.

Media.com discusses how to demonstrate the credibility of news to consumers. 

U. S. Company and Foundation Grants for Covid-19 Relief.

Covid-19 related Funding opportunities.

PND list of Covid-19  Disaster Relief Funds.

Covid-19 Voluntary Response Fund (fund raiser).

The NDN COVID-19 Response Project is designed to provide rapid response resources to Indigenous communities bracing from economic impacts, stresses to public services and combating the spread of misinformation; reaching affected communities through organizations and tribal programs delivering urgent, frontline services including immediate relief, resources and gap services. 

Discussions around resources on topics like safety, self care, data, revenue and other challenges journalists are encountering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Panelists Caroline Chen of ProPublica, Armand Emamdjomeh of the Washington Post, Jennifer LaFleur of American University and Cheryl Phillips of Big Local News at Stanford University will address where journalists can find accurate data about COVID-19, share advice for using the data within larger context responsibly and ways to deliver that information to communities in easily understandable formats for the greatest impact. Recorded.

Panelists Carlos Gonzalez of the San Francisco Chronicle, Paige Cornwell of the Seattle Times and Kent Porter of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat answered questions about their experience producing journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded.

This course from First Draft News covers how to understand “information disorder;” and how/why false information spreads; how to monitor for Coronavirus related information on the social web; the main tools and techniques for verifying content online; best practice to slow down the spread of misinformation;  and how to look after your own mental health while covering a health pandemic.