2021 Volume 98 Pages 3-17
More and more interviews are conducted through video conferences as an
alternative to the ever falling number of press conferences in order to prevent
the further spread of COVID-19. This paper mainly discusses interviews conducted
with journalism practitioners to analyze how their communication were
affected by the pandemic in three aspects—namely, their communication with
interviewees, fellow journalists, and readers or the audience. The findings are
summarized as follows. First, reporters are hindered from conducting interviews
in person and depending on materials provided from interviewees
instead. Second, unable to help each other at press conferences or in person,
reporters are taken control of by interviewees. Third, scant coverage of
infected people and bereaved families was noted, along with coverage that triggers
on-line witch hunts targeting the infected, as well as a tendency among
officials and medical experts disclosure and coverage based on effectiveness in
curbing the pandemic, rather than the role of independent journalism.
