And that’s (finally) a wrap!
The 2020 journalism recap.
From the UK’s ‘Brexit’ of the EU, to the outbreak of a global pandemic, it definitely goes without saying that 2020 has been the year to remember. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried and above all… we’ve stayed inside! Whether you found yourself stuck inside the body of a key worker or you did Instagram a service with your banana bread — this recap is for you. In no particular order, here are three of the most shockingly newsworthy events to come out of 2020 and the impact they had on the journalism industry.
Australia’s bushfires
Record breaking temperatures and extreme drought kicked the year off with what most people deemed the worst that could happen. Australia’s bushfires reached catastrophic levels, sweeping across the nation and calling for global attention. With more than 15.6 million acres burned and a staggering 1 billion animals killed across the country; this climate crisis certainly defined the first few months of 2020.
Australia’s bushfires required months of coverage that stretched from the devastation of wildlife to the impact on the Australian public. Expecting journalists to investigate and reconstruct such a devastating event requires extreme dedication from the media, risking the likes of danger, PTSD and anxiety. In his article on reporting this travesty, Mike Ticher recalled The Guardian covering the fires live for a total of 32 days! Going on to discuss how the ‘logistical’ challenges faced by having photographers and reporters in fire zones have taken their toll, he discussed that ‘anxious moments’ had surfaced throughout the process. Ticher acknowledges the importance of journalist safety but states that these risks led to ‘extraordinary dispatch’, potentially raising questions about the line between risk and reward within journalism.
The coronavirus outbreak
Next up we have a topic that needs no introduction, COVID-19. Believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus pandemic forced the majority of the world to stop in its tracks for the first time in decades. Government issued lockdowns forced us all inside our homes for months on end, leaving the highlight of our weeks to be the trip down to the shops. With millions of deaths worldwide, it is important we take a second here to remember anyone who was lost, and those who are grieving a friend or family member to this deeply unjust virus.
Despite having the public locked down for months, one of the only things that didn’t blink for a second was the news! Journalistic aims shifted sharply from Brexit debates and the fate of a potential no deal to 24-hour exclusive coverage of a virus that not even the experts understood! The demand for reporting was arguably higher than ever before as the public looked to journalists and broadcasters to inform and update them several times daily. Social distancing required mobile journalism to undergo a complete makeover. From employing add-on zoom lenses to appear closer to the guest to the use of extendable poles to attach their microphones, reporters across the globe made use of these necessary solutions to maintain a high volume of news flow.
BLM
The black lives matter movement shaped 2020 into a year of change. Speaking out globally, millions took part in protests, raised awareness on social media and educated themselves on race at its core. Sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protesters around the world demanded justice be served upon the white officer Derek Chauvin who inflicted the police brutality upon Floyd that led to his death.
This movement was huge for journalism, placing issues surrounding race and reporting under a much-needed spotlight. Forcing important conversations about racial inequalities to take place within all communities, coverage of the movement was soon all anyone was talking about. Newsrooms globally experienced a great deal of pressure from the public to report in favour of the movement. With the likes of major broadcasters The BBC and Sky News reporting the protests, the demand for the public to be heard was undeniable. Journalists experienced record attacks when reporting and attending protests, with photojournalist Linda Tirado being shot with a foam bullet, leaving her blind in her left eye.
So, there we have it. Three of the most publicised events of 2020 that forced journalists globally to adapt, improvise and overcome. As 2020 draws to a close, I urge you to reflect on the year and its top news stories and broaden your perspective to a journalist’s ability to produce quality and accurate news, even in the most unprecedented of times.
