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Journalism Researchers at TU Dortmund University Start International Project

How media worldwide are covering the coronavirus crisis

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The European Journalism Observatory (EJO) hosted by the Erich Brost Institute (EBI) at TU Dortmund University has launched a new project.
The crisis triggered by the coronavirus is confronting the world with unprecedented challenges. This applies for the population, politics, the economy – as well as for the media. These play a key role in the current phase of massive uncertainty. While countries all around the world seal themselves off, it is extremely important that people remain informed about developments in the public debate on the coronavirus in other countries – so that international cooperation and understanding continue to be possible as well and especially in the current state of emergency.

On 19 March, the European Journalism Ob­ser­va­tory (EJO) hosted by the Erich Brost Institute (EBI) at TU Dort­mund University launched a new project: Renowned media researchers from the EBI network are reporting from all continents on the situation in their countries.

From Finland to South Africa, from Brazil to Pakistan – how are the media, how is journalism handling the crisis? How is it discussed in states where the freedom of the press is restricted, what role does fake news play in other countries? These questions are at the focus of the project “Global Journalism Ob­ser­va­tory on the Coronavirus Crisis”, for which Professor Susanne Fengler and the EJO’s chief editor Tina Bettels-Schwabbauer are responsible.

“Through a large number of research projects, the EBI and the EJO have established a global network of media researchers. We want to place this at the service of the people in order to keep journalistic and scientific borders open in the current crisis, campaign across borders for transparency and understanding, and take a stand against fake news and stereotypes,” says Susanne Fengler.

Differences in reporting

As Tina Bettels-Schwabbauer explains, the project is being published in parallel on the German-language EJO website and in English on the partner website of the University of Oxford.

The project started with four articles from Finland, United Kingdom, Russia and Sweden. While Finnish media have chosen an international approach when reporting on the coronavirus crisis, as journalism researcher Heikki Heikkilä describes, David Baines of Newcastle University says that the British media concentrate on the inconsistency of the British government concerning measures against the pandemic. “In Sweden, public service media favor live reporting,” says media researcher Torbjörn von Krogh. By contrast, in Russia there is hardly any discussion in the media about whether the country is prepared for the pandemic or if the authorities are doing enough to protect people – most sources merely provide information on new cases and measures, reports Svetlana S. Bodrunova, journalism professor at Saint Petersburg State University. 

Articles from other countries are being added on a continuous basis.

Further information:

European Journalism Ob­ser­va­tory (German)

European Journalism Ob­ser­va­tory (English)

 

Contact for further information:

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