How can media organizations be unique in the content provided for their audience with the lockdown of major cities and access to same data about victims of COVID-19? Lekan Otufodunrin reports
This was one of the issues discussed at a recent online interactive session on Media Sustainability organized by the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ).
Led Journalist and Co-founder @SembraMedia, Janine Warner, the close session was attended by journalists and media managers from India, Nigeria, France and others.
“There is need for more in-depth reporting, breaking down of the issues for the readers to understand and become more local in reporting,” Warner said.
According to her, the audience should be given more opportunity to share their experiences and personal stories to give a glimpse of the situation across the country.
To understand the interests of readers, the Knight Fellow said there is a need to follow the audience, listen to them and know what they arguing about and reading online.
Instead of monitoring local competitors alone, ideas from parts of the world should be considered and adopted locally.
Launch of special newsletters, email, Podcasts which can be sponsored should be explored by media organizations and individual journalists.
The name and compelling content of the newsletters should be informed by the target audience, which media managers can identify with.
Non-profits and social enterprise options are also available for especially media start-ups to consider, but there will be a need for support by established organizations.
Participants shared their experiences with reporting COVID-19 and various efforts being made to cope with the challenges due to low patronage and revenue.
” The world needs journalists more than ever before. We need smart, creative and investigative journalists who can make contacts and source necessary resources, “Warner said.
