Chika Mefor-Nwachukwu of Leadership Newspapers writes on the online course she participated in with the support of the Media Career Development Network on why journalists should prioritize their mental health as they go about reporting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Everybody needs this knowledge, but the journalists and other frontline workers (especially health workers) need it all the more.
Now, there is a whole lot to learn on the coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and this is especially because of the peculiar nature of the disease. It was a very long time ago since the world last experienced this sort of shutdown – a pandemic that brought the world to its knees, and it came with a lot of pandemonium that has got everyone talking.
As a result of the plethora of information that has flooded the news space, false information also found its way into people’s ears, leading to the misinformation of so many. The pandemic would probably not have had the much impact it had on the human community if information management had been put to good use.
As people at the frontline, journalists have the responsibility of ensuring that adequate information is disseminated. They also have the responsibility of keeping themselves mentally sound as they go about their business of gathering and sharing news.
It is important that journalists prioritize their mental wellbeing at this crucial time because of the huge psychological strain that comes with reporting daily, the unpalatable happenings that occur in the human space.
The mortality figures being released by the health authorities on a daily basis is disturbing to the mind, and too, the regular jostling about in the pursuit of current updates on the pandemic can also be very exhausting. These are just some of the reasons why journalists and other frontline workers must be careful with their mental health while they carry out their assignments.
With the support of Media Career Development Network, I was able to enrol for a course put together by Firstdraft. I chose the course because I felt I could combine it with my other schedules. The online course termed “Covering Coronavirus: An Online Course for Journalists” was aimed at teaching journalists how to accurately cover the Covid-19 pandemic.
It came also with short videos that gave better visual lessons on what the trainers wanted the trainees to know. The Co-founder of Firstdraft, Claire Wardle and her team, gave out practical tools, techniques and advice on how to effectively do the media coverage of the pandemic.
The course which is all-encompassing addressed the following issues:
How to understand information disorder, as well as how and why false information spreads
- How to monitor for coronavirus-related information on the social web
- The main tools and techniques for verifying contents online
- Best practices to slow down the spread of misinformation
- How to look after your own mental health while covering a pandemic.
After partaking in the course, I now have a broader knowledge on how best to cover the Covid-19 pandemic especially as there are barrages of fake news and dangerous information flying around. Fake news about the virus is no doubt, very dangerous, especially as they have also found their way into the news collection of even the respectable media organizations. Many journalists who were supposed to know better have been caught sharing unverified information.
Wardle advised that no matter how knowledgeable and well-trained a journalist is, he must practice emotional scepticism. Emotional Scepticism involves remaining highly cautious around and about one’s instincts, impulses, convictions and strong passions. During this time of heightened fear and uncertainty, no one is immune to fake news; so how information makes us feel is very important.
If it makes us scream, shout, cry, or act in certain ways, then it is worth verifying. Sensitive pieces of information ought to be verified before they are shared or published. I have found myself many times, playing ‘cop’ on the social media platforms I use, cautioning people to be 100 per cent sure of the information they come across before sharing them. It is rather sad that many people who we feel should know better, are also being caught up in the web of fake news.
Reporting the Covi-19 pandemic is definitely anxiety-inducing. I have found myself sometimes depressed after doing reports on the pandemic. However, tips from the course I took have helped me tremendously. The course enumerated seven tips on how journalists who are reporting the pandemic can enhance their mental and emotional wellbeing.
The first tip is for journalists to beware of stigmatization. It explained that there is always a stigma around discussing mental health as many journalists pretend that they can always downplay the impact of work stress on their mental health. It advised journalists to know that their job will definitely have a straining effect on them and that they should be okay with it and seek help when they need it without being ashamed.
The second tip is for journalists to separate their work and life. It advised journalists to draw a clearer line between work and home life by designating a period when work issues are not allowed and during which discussions about the pandemic are not to be had. In my home, I have decided to discuss anything but Coronavirus because it stares at you everywhere you go. My husband and I have decided to keep discussions on Covid-19 away from our home. It gives me the sanity I need.
The course further admonishes journalists to remember that becoming a top-flight journalist, requires them to take proper care of their mind and body.
The third tip is to stick to official guidance. It advised journalists to follow the guidelines set by the authorities to keep them safe from Covid-19 even as they report the pandemic to the world.
The fourth tip is for journalists to check in regularly with their colleagues. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused many journalists to work from home, but working from home doesn’t mean forgetting to check on colleagues. It advised journalists to talk to one another to know how they are feeling and if they need help, especially as the lockdown has eaten deep in the pockets of many.
The fifth tip is for all journalists to create a self-care plan which includes getting enough sleep, going offline before bed, eating well and exercising. Outside work, journalists are also advised to do whatever they can to get their mind off the pandemic and focus on other things that are wholesome. This can be done by taking a hobby such as reading, watching television, meditating, writing a journal or even socialising through video calls.
The sixth tip and very important is for journalists to know their trigger and ask for help. Journalists are advised to think about the habits they had adopted when they were stressed or anxious and write them down so that when the habits begin to manifest, they will be able to retrace their steps, review their self-care plan, talk to someone or seek professional help. My recent interview with the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) offered huge psychological relief for COVID-19 patients and their families, and every other person who needs psychological support.
Finally, the seventh tip urges all journalists to be kind to themselves and be realistic about what they can do. It advised journalists to go easy with themselves knowing that with the pandemic crisis in the world, it is perfectly okay to be scared and stressed.
