Best Practices Series: Introduction to COVID-19 and the Fault Lines
The Maynard Institute is sharing inclusivity tips for journalists reporting on COVID-19.
By Jean Marie Brown and Martin G. Reynolds
There’s no doubt that COVID-19 will be one of the top stories of the 21st century. The 24/7 coverage that seems to log every detail about the virus and its devastating effects will shape how this time is remembered and likely influence societal and community response for years to come. With that in mind, it’s imperative that media coverage be as inclusive as possible.
Inclusion isn’t tokenism and it doesn’t feed stereotypes. Instead, it represents the multigenerational, racially and ethnically diverse world in which we live. It isn’t coast-centric with nods to the South and the “flyover states.”
For more than 40 years the Maynard Institute has been dedicated to helping journalists develop multifaceted coverage that reflects our nation and the world at-large. Robert C. Maynard pioneered the concept that Fault Lines — race, gender, generation, geography, class, and sexual orientation, as well as fissures such as politics and religion — influence how journalists cover events and how the public views that coverage.
Maynard wanted the news media to serve as societal structures of integrity through coverage that brings true understanding of issues. With this in mind, we plan to do a series of daily columns discussing COVID-19 coverage in the context of Fault Lines and fissures.
In addition, we’ll be holding a number of webinars with journalists doing work we think effectively reaches across the Fault Lines.
Check our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for links to our upcoming critiques:
- Tuesday — April 7 — Race — MIJE Fault Lines guru and TCU Assistant Prof. of Professional Practice Jean Marie Brown
- Wednesday — April 8 — Class — MIJE Table Stakes coordinator Felecia Henderson
- Thursday — April 9 — Generation — MIJE Co-Executive Director Evelyn Hsu
- Friday — April 10 — Gender — MIJE Co-Executive Director Martin G. Reynolds
- Tuesday — April 13 — Religion (fissure) — MIJE Table Stakes coordinator Felecia Henderson
- Wednesday — April 14 — Geography — MIJE Fault Lines guru and TCU Assistant Prof. of Professional Practice Jean Marie Brown
- Thursday — April 15 — Sexual Orientation — MIJE Co-Executive Director Martin G. Reynolds
Included in our columns will be stories we felt hit and missed the mark, as well as tips journalists should use to make their work more nuanced and inclusive.
It is our hope that during this extremely challenging time that the journalism produced is reflective of a diverse society and helps to elevate the voices of those often unheard and inform us all so we can make the best decisions in service of ourselves, our loved ones, society and the world.
Jean Marie Brown is a key coach for the Maynard Institute’s Fault Lines newsroom diversity training program. Martin G. Reynolds is the Co-Executive Director of the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. For more information about remote Fault Lines training please email Martin at mreynolds@mije.org.
