Difficulty for Journalism During COVID-19 Restrictions

Difficulty for Journalism During COVID-19 Restrictions

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Journalism has always been an interesting subject to be a part of. Even joining the Quill at the university, I had difficulty figuring out what was reportable and readable, but it has become even more difficult to follow now. The pandemic has made events and in-person interviews impossible and while digital media has given us an option to continue reporting, it is not easy. 

Human beings are rather sociable people and isolation during this pandemic makes that difficult to find ways to be sociable even in the technology-based era we are in. The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines sociable as:

1. Liking to be with and talk to other people. 

2. Involving or allowing friendly and pleasant social relations.

With that definition in mind, we also need to look at the definition of journalism. 

1. a: the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media

b: the public press

c: an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium

1. a: writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine

b: writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation

c: writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest

With the definitions of sociable and journalism being used, it shows how both can be used together to create pieces that are of public interest but right now the only thing that is of public interest to a large number of the public is the current COVID-19 pandemic. It seems to supersede everything else.