coronavirus reporting award info

Why it is crucial to champion international coverage of the pandemic

Accurate, impartial and accessible journalism has never felt more important. As we near the deadline for entries to the OWM Coronavirus Reporting Award, we spoke to some of the award judges to hear more about the importance of shining a light on the work of the journalists and filmmakers who are covering the pandemic. 

“This is the story of our times, a story that has affected the world’s population like no other,” begins Jonathan Wells, who previously worked as a documentary producer and director at the BBC for 10 years and now heads up the media department at EBRD. “Through all the noise, it’s essential we hear from those that don’t have a prominent platform to tell their tales. These stories will teach us more about the pandemic. They might even help us defeat it.”

We rely on our journalists and filmmakers to help us make sense of the world. To show us what is happening beyond our borders, and to encourage us all to come together in global solidarity.

Ashish Joshi, Sky New Correspondent, explained, “this is a story that impacts all of our lives on a scale rarely seen before.” He went on to emphasise, “the accurate reporting of this global pandemic is crucial in helping everyone make informed choices that may ultimately decide if they live or die. The journalists around the world who are covering this story are exposing themselves to danger so that we can all understand what is happening in our increasingly interconnected lives.”

This award seeks to champion stories that not only show us international perspectives on the pandemic, but also highlight the potential solutions, the urgent needs and the surprising implications of COVID-19 around the world.

“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, journalists around the world have risked their lives to tell important stories and shine a light on the global impact of COVID-19. Media coverage has the power to hold governments to account and help provide reliable and trustworthy information to the public,” concludes Cora Bauer from Amnesty International UK, who leads on the organisation’s coronavirus reporting.

“At a time when the world can feel so uncertain, this is more vital than ever. It is important we recognise and honour these efforts.”

 


The Coronavirus Reporting Award is for a piece of media in any format, including print, film, audio, or digital media.

MEET THE JUDGES

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