TV journalists social distance & report from home

The coronavirus outbreak has flipped many people’s lives upside down. Employees who used to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. are now stuck at home, either completing work online or waiting for this pandemic to end. 

Obviously, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and those in the food industry are considered “essential” workers because people need access to these things to survive. What some may not realize is that journalists are also essential workers, because the communication of newsworthy events is needed now more than ever to keep people safe.

Journalists are the ones keeping the public in on the loop that is the coronavirus. They are working around the clock to report Covid-19 cases, and what political leaders are saying to their local communities to keep them safe. Journalists out in the field and in press conferences, like the one’s with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, are maintaining their distance from interview subjects and other reporters. Many are strictly staying six feet away from other people. At White House press conferences with President Trump, journalists are leaving space between each other as well as having their temperatures checked before any reporting begins. I have seen journalists online talking about thoroughly wiping down their equipment, to prevent the virus from spreading. 

While some reporters are taking safety precautions out in the field, many are working from home. For many local TV stations, meteorologists are reporting live straight from their homes. You can also see journalists recording stand-ups for their packages at home. I believe many in the news industry are trying to lead by example, as they display how they are social distancing while still working. 

The same goes for student journalists. Us at Troy TrojanVision News have been working hard to put together content from home. Our station debuted its first social distancing edition of TrojanVision last week. I anchored in front a gray curtain in my bedroom, utilizing a key light and a free online teleprompter which strolled across my laptop. Check out my at home studio set up on my Tik Tok. 

Our reporters are editing packages and shooting their stand-ups at home, in addition to conducting “live taped” interviews over live video steaming sites with members of the Troy, Alabama, community. 

TrojanVision reporter Allison Polk created a news package, using Final Cut Pro, discussing a blood drive put on by Troy University. She interviewed one subject over Zoom and utilized file footage to bring the story together. 

“One thing that this experience has taught me is that journalism doesn’t stop, and that journalists have to be flexible in this field in order to be successful,” Polk said. 

Journalist Sam Granville spoke with one graphic design professor over Zoom who was using 3D printing technology to create ear protectors for health professionals wearing face masks. 

“Working on this social distancing show, I learned the importance of face-to-face communication,” he said. “In a world going digital, I think that interaction with other people and taking the time to listen and learn their story, is something that with never become outdated.”

I had the chance to use this interview style as well, as I spoke with Associate Professor of Music Dr. Dave Camwell about how the jazz ensemble was using music to unify through this tough time. We spoke live over Zoom, rather than prerecording an interview. 

On our most recent newscast, we discussed online learning, a blood donation shortage and drive and how citizens can participate in feeding the hungry (those who may have just lost a job and are unable to purchase food). These topics are newsworthy and deserve to be shared, and members of our news crew are doing what we can from home to do so. 

You can check out Troy TrojanVision Social Distancing Edition on Facebook at “Troy TrojanVision” or “Troy University.”