#coronavirus for journalists, short thread : Here’s what we know about the importance of reporting during epidemics. First, repetitive, reliable reporting can change behaviour . There are a number if papers on this - here is one sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/…
Important that news organisations update figures, practical information and news about the spread with calm unsensational regularity *in the same place* . Liveblogs are great for those following, but poor for those encountering the story at different points.
This advice from @CarolineYLChen is the best thing I have read on the framing of questions for covering epidemics propublica.org/article/i-live… - share widely
Local newsrooms are on the frontline. Props to @seattletimes and others for lifting paywalls . The lack of local reporting in an issue for epidemiologists and scientists tracking spread - reporting matters - this from 2018 sets out why statnews.com/2018/03/20/new…
There is a lot of false information and just out of date or wrong material out there. There are also some good pieces on the interaction between social media and health crises - this from 2016 ago in @TheAtlantic is still worth reading google.com/amp/s/amp.thea…
Follow @marcelsalathe and other digital epidemiologists to learn more about some of these issues - and copy his suggestion that when you cancel travel, save the refund and subscribe to reliable news organisations
The denigration of the press by the President is going to feed into this epidemic. The failure of Facebook , Google and other large tech companies to adequately prioritize high quality reliable outlets ditto.
Oh - and follow @JaneLytv , @CarolineYLChen @sarahkliff @sarahboseley and other reporters who are across both the information part and the health and policy part. Also the @WHO briefings > than CDC for clarity , and context .
