The Impact of COVID-19 on Journalism in Emerging Economies and the Global South

Abstract

This report explores the untold story of how the COVID crisis has impacted on journalists – and journalism - in Emerging Economies and the Global South. It’s a story told not only through the insights of industry leaders, advocates and media experts – but critically, through the voices of the journalists themselves, too often unheard or silenced. It is the first report of its kind to bring together both fact-based data and first-hand experience with this regional focus.

Taking a deep dive into the critical challenges faced by the profession, the report examines issues including the pandemic’s impact on the personal safety and welfare of journalists, the structure of newsrooms and disruption to business models, the proliferation of fake news, and surging threats to media freedom. The study also identifies best practice and innovative approaches that have been developed as a response to the challenges of COVID-19.

Contributing alumni from TRF’s journalism training programmes span 26 countries, sharing their own experiences to illustrate the reality of journalism outside of North America and Western Europe.

Keywords: journalism, journalists, media, media development, media for development, internet, media freedom, freedom of expression, digital media, innovation, media studies, developing world, Global South, emerging economies, infodemic, COVID-19, covid crisis, reporting, censorship

JEL Classification: L82, L86, L89, M30, M37, M38, M39, O30, 031, F50, F60, H10, H12, I1, I10, I12, I14, I15, I18, I19,