(This composition is written in freestyle format and does not follow AP style)
NPPA Coronavirus 1st Town Hall webinar relayed live of March 22 is an excellent reference guide, especially for Freelancing and Independent Journalists. The vivid varieties of panelists on the live online relay laid down fundamentals for professional and individual safety & security and provided multiple perspectives of these situations and impact.
Link to the webinar https://www.facebook.com/NPPA.Visual.Journalists/
Link to NPPA website: https://nppa.org/
These panelists gave helpful insights of happenings in the media industry, covering a wide range of topics like safety, security, working conditions, social response, financial and resource dynamics, psychological impacts and support system and many more.
As a photojournalism student working independently for my class assignment, this one hour forty minutes discussion came in as a handbook and helped me prepare and organize; safely, securely, systematically and mentally for my assignment.
In addition to independents as myself. As Brett Akagi, News Operations Manager, correctly said “Freelancers don’t have the support system”. Which makes it even more challenging to work in already difficult situation.
As independent photojournalism student here are few points which I found helpful and interesting in the NPPA Coronavirus 1st Town Hall webinar to which we can return to again and again.
I, as a novice, completely agree with Marie De Jesus from Houston Chronicle, as she said that emotionally we want to be able to do the best we can. But, many new entrants lack the navigation system of an organization or expert and empathetic managers.
But as a student of photojournalism, acting as freelancer, inherits the serious responsibilities of reporting. Media the fourth essential pillar of democracy is categorized as a part of essential services, Mickey Osterreicher, NPPA General Counsel said.
And in these unprecedented times of executive restrictions Homeland Security and other government departments and agencies, has awarded “exception to those rules”, Osterreicher said.
With such privileges I believe, media professionals and journalists have to shoulder greater and broader responsibilities. Not only as a professional but individual as well.
Mickey Osterreicher pointed out that the freedom of speech, the constitutional right remains intact in these stressful times as well but suggested to avoid arguments with any kind of officials. Osterriecher also suggested to carry press credentials or permission letters along to avoid unnecessary hassle.
My University ID card helped me to introduce myself and seek permission to shoot for my assignment. But in case of independent or freelancers who want to pursue a story should do remained unanswered.
Psychological or emotional impact of the corona virus conditions are severe, both on individual and professional levels. The emotional stress and anxiety were evidently clear on each and every panelists’ face.
“the real diagnosis of stress comes when the expectations are higher and your control over your situation is lower and those are the two big ingredients that cause stress in situation like this” Al Tompkins, Psychotherapist said.
Jill Geisler of Loyola University, Freedom Forum, Chicago, received disturbing social response. “the people look at me like I am the enemy, part of the media, part of this hoax” and somebody even “coughed on me” “just because they thought it was funny” Geisler said.
It becomes incredibly essential for independent, freelancers or student journalists to mentally prepare themselves to embrace negative responses.
Even though photojournalists have to venture out and risk themselves the working conditions do not help to deliver satisfactory professional output, adding emotional stress on the photojournalist.
The relationship dynamics between the journalist, the source, the story, they all change, leading to work dissatisfaction and adding psychological pressure. The fear of getting infected is always there and with great intensity.
Moreover, becoming a carrier and spreading the infection in their workplace or in their homes amplifies the intensity of the emotional distress on journalists.
Self-isolation and social distancing are highly recommended after executing an assignment in risky locations, populated areas or infected areas. Just like Marie did.
Avoid sharing your gears, cars, crews and other stuff, Joe Little, MMJ & Gnome Slayer, NBC 7, San Diego, said.
The lockdown which is now extended till 29th May of 2020, the social, economic and political conditions are realigning themselves and may present more challenging situations for journalists to work into.
Julie Wolfe, News Director, WHAS News and Katie Schoolor, CNBC, and Vice President of NPPA gave important and useful information about ‘going remote’ working online by choosing from a wide range of apps for interviewing and compiling data for storytelling.
Chris Post, NPPA, Safety and Security Chair, 20 years EMT expert underlined his concerns about personal security and personal safety in context to increase in violence against media and petty crimes, which was clearly observed in Jill Geisler’s case.
Mickey Osterreicher, however suggested that the journalist should not hesitate to approach officials or authorities in the chain of command.
None of the panelists were able to console the freelancers to brace for the impact of economic slowdown.
However, it will be very interesting in near future to pursue the $2 Trillion stimulus money story. Thank you very much for the lead Al Tompkins.
Almost all the members of the panel agreed that the COVID-19 outbreak has tipped of cancellation of various events, all forms of activities have slowed down, diminishing the opportunities for freelancers and independent journalists to get hired.
This situation is exerting tremendous pressure on the economic resources much required for media’s and individual’s sustainability. “I would tell you, all media organizations are revenue challenged right now” Akagi said.
Many organizations and media corporates are providing financial support and donations for the media professionals to help survive the distressing time, Mickey Osterreicher said.
One of the most important point to remember is that “time is a non-renewable resource” Psychotherapist, Sidney Tompkins said, and it is important to highlight the positives. “There has to be balance” Sidney said.
The panelists shared some amazing ideas to capture moments for storytelling in social distancing conditions and encouraged to seek out the good and kind for the upliftment of society.
We are all in this together and look it “as marathon not a sprint” Cathleen Curtis, Buffalo News said.
(NPPA photo courtesy: Lori King: https://nppa.org/news/precautions-concerns-shared-first-nppa-town-hall-webinar-working-coronavirus-era)
SK Photojournalism 