Keeping informed
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, we have compiled a list of vital resources, sources, public media content and best practices for the public, journalists and media workers alike
Use the links below to browse recommended content. The Public Media Alliance will continue to update this page regularly with more information and resources.
The resources below are split into four sections: resources for journalists and media workers, useful sources for the general public, children’s content and funding opportunities.
Use the tabs on the right hand side of the page to jump between sections.
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One last thing! As many journalists adapt to working from home, we’ve started pulling together resources and recommendations for the best practices for remote broadcasting. How have you been broadcasting remotely during the pandemic? Share your suggestions, tips and advice with us!
Updated: October 2021
Featured Resource
PMA member CBC/Radio-Canada has made available its internal guides about how best to work during the coronavirus pandemic. The guides includes best practice for employees and managers, with advice on how best to work from home and in the field.
Our thanks to CBC/Radio-Canada for making these available.
The guides are available as PDF’s below and are available in both French and English.
» Guide for Employees – COVID-19 (English)
» Guide pour les employés – COVID-19 (Français)
» Guide for Managers – COVID-19 (English)
» Guide pour les gestionnaires – COVID-19 (Français)
» Guide for Working from home – Q&A (English)
» Guide pour le télétravail – FAQ (Français)
» Guide for Working the Field – News (English)
» Guide pour travailler sur le terrain – Information (Français)
The Public Media Alliance team have also collated essential resources and guides for journalists and media workers covering protests around the world. These resources are applicable to all protests, with a particular emphasis on coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be accessed here: Staying Safe: Tools and resources for reporting on protests.
Journalists & Media Professionals
Given the global nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is proving to be one of the most challenging stories that many journalists will have experienced.
The following round up of key resources and tools provides tips and advice for media professionals reporting on the novel Coronavirus, some of which can be used for other crisis and emergency reporting. It includes safety information for journalists who are in direct contact with individuals with confirmed cases, and it emphasises the media’s vital role in providing the public with credible, fact-checked and timely information, while reminding them to avoid sensationalised and fear-provoking reporting.
Tips, advice and guides on covering Covid-19
3 tips for better media freedom advocacy
Deutsche Welle shares 3 tips to “advocate more effectively for free speech” at a time when, around the world, governments are introducing measures to curtail media freedom during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read our latest Global Call Out for more details. DW’s tips include framing your message, updating reporting tactics and collaboration.
6 Tips for Using Open Source Tools When Reporting from Home
As open source tools have proved to be very effective for journalists in terms of breaking major stories on the pandemic, the Global Investigative Journalism Network has shared particular insights into how open source tools and techniques can elevate traditional reporting.
A briefing about how states, the media and social media companies can help to combat COVID-19 (coronavirus) by committing to transparency, tackling misinformation and promoting authoritative health advice.
BBC Media Action guide (Manual)
“This manual provides tips for media practitioners on how to help audiences during health emergencies. It can be read in conjunction with BBC Media Action’s Lifeline Production Manual (available online), which provides more general guidance on how to communicate with people affected by humanitarian crises in order to help save lives and reduce suffering.”
CDAC (Communication with Disaster Affected Communities) (List of resources)
The list summarises information resources related to health, messaging and communications, and community engagement.
The Center for Health Journalism (Tips)
Thinking of the public’s need for accurate information, the Center for Health Journalism has offered these crucial tips for journalists to keep up with the fast-paced nature of reporting the pandemic. The page includes techniques on information gathering, localizing story ideas as well as managing sources.
Coronavirus Radio Ideas Facebook Group
A new Facebook group page has been created by P1 Media Group and Benztown for radio stations around the world to share ideas on how they are dealing with Covid-19 and how they can still produce quality broadcasts during the pandemic.
The Journalist’s Toolbox compiled by the Society of Professional Journalists provides a comprehensive list of tools for journalists to cover the Covid-19 pandemic.
COVERING COVID-19: HANDBOOK FOR JOURNALISTS
USAID, IREX and Data Leads have collaborated to produce a handbook for journalists focusing on covering the coronavirus outbreak. The text features strategies and resources inclusive of fact-checking methods as well as how to execute techniques for handling sources and making the most of data.
Covering the coronavirus pandemic
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is providing support for journalists covering Covid-19 by offering tools, resources and advice on how to present stories with accuracy and also, how to deal with the fallouts within the staff and wider community.
The Dart Center has compiled a list of “English and Chinese-language resources for journalists covering the coronavirus epidemic, including tips on covering disease, interviewing victims and survivors, and working with colleagues exposed to traumatic events.”
Deutsche Welle Akademie – “Stay informed: Resources and initiatives”
DW Akademie has compiled its own list of useful resources and initiatives for journalists and media professionals reporting on the Covid-19 crisis. These have been broken down into the following themes: safety, media freedom violations, media viability, misinformation and disinformation and coverage.
Ethical Journalism Network (Advice)
Essential advice reminding journalists of key ethical principles when reporting on Coronavirus, such as truth, accuracy, impartiality and accountability.
Epidemiological models: 10 things journalists covering coronavirus research should know
Media personnel covering Covid-19 need to be able to understand and interpret epidemiological models. Journalist’s Resource has provided a guiding list of 10 things every journalist should know when reporting and using these models.
First Draft – Tips for reporting on Covid-19 and slowing the spread of misinformation (Tips – available in Arabic, French, Spanish and German)
“Here are First Draft’s tips for responsible reporting on Covid-19. They are informed by our interviews with health and science reporters, health professionals and journalism professors, our existing training materials, and several excellent coronavirus reporting guides listed at the end of this article.”
GFMD –RESOURCES FOR TACKLING COVID-19 MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION
Many media organisations, including some of GFMD’s members and partners, have been working on projects to help prevent the spread of false information, which can be found using the link above.
Global Investigative Journalism Network: Tips for Journalists Covering COVID-19
- “To support journalists in their coverage, GIJN’s Miraj Chowdhury pulled together advice from various journalism organizations, experienced journalists, and experts.”
- They have also provided tips for how journalists can deal with trauma while reporting on COVID-19.
Google has dedicated a dashboard to tracking trends within countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This tool will help journalists to access information around search trends around Covid-19.
ICFJ – Covering COVID-19: Resources for Journalists
“So many journalists in ICFJ’s network and beyond are debunking misinformation and providing lifesaving coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud of the work that reporters worldwide are doing, and are working to help however we can. Our Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum, in partnership with ICFJ’s International Journalists’ Network (IJNet), is a new initiative that aims to do just that. ICFJ is rolling out a wide range of resources to help journalists cover this pandemic.”
International Journalists’ Network (IJNET) resources
From carefully-chosen headlines to avoiding the use of stereotypes, the International Journalists’ Network pulls together 10 top tips for journalists to take into consideration when reporting on Covid-19
- From infections to mobility: Tips for finding and analyzing COVID-19 dataIt may be difficult to keep track of changes but there are data and tools available to investigate and analyse these changes. In this resource, reporters can access tips on finding and analysing COVID-19 data to track shifts in real time, including changes in behaviour.
Internews’ covid-19 resources and guides
Internews has provided Covid-19 reporting resources, including webinars, guides, and media mentors. You can also access information on Internews’ Covid-19 projects, stories on how journalists are functioning during the pandemic
IPI – Covid19 Media Freedom Monitoring
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the free flow of news and information is more essential than ever, ensuring open dialogue and the exchange of vital information. IPI is therefore closely monitoring press freedom restrictions in this exceptional situation.
Poynter (advice and resources)
- Poynter provides advice on how newsrooms can avoid sensationalised coronavirus coverage and report responsibly.
- In 2015, the Poynter Institute launched The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) in an effort to unite fact-checkers around the world and encourage a consolidation of the best methods and techniques.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ)
RISJ have a number of Covid-19 resources and recommended readings including:
- How journalists can help stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak: “Here are 11 tips on how to report on the outbreak from Trudie Lang and Peter Drobac, two public health experts from Oxford University”
- Types, sources, and claims of COVID-19 misinformation
Journalist safety
- 9 ways journalists can push back against the stress of an always-on story by Poynter (Tips + video)
- Fundación para la libertad de prensa (Advice – Spanish)
FLIP provides advice on how journalists and media workers can protect themselves while covering the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Media ethics, safety and mental health: reporting in the time of Covid-19In this article by the Ethical Journalism Network Director, Hannah Storm, the importance of ethics, physical safety, and mental health for journalists reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted. EJN also provides additional resources journalists may use.
- Mental health tips and resources for journalists
Tips and resources for journalists to safeguard not only their own mental health but also the mental health of their sources, particularly with the increased stress resulting from the covid-19 pandemic. This resource also includes a webinar on journalists’ mental health, hosted by International Journalists’ Network (IJNET) and which featured panelists Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University; and Sherry Ricchiardi, Ph.D., co-author of ICFJ’s Disaster and Crisis Coverage guide and international media trainer.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (Resources)
- Coronavirus Response webpage – this new resource features “regularly updated physical, digital, and psychosocial safety advice from CPJ Emergencies for journalists covering the crisis, available in more than 15 languages. An “ask an expert” section allows journalists and newsrooms to submit questions and get up-to-date advice from CPJ safety experts.” It also includes a safety advisory, which includes advice on pre and post assignment, travel planning, face masks and avoiding infection.
- Media Development Investment Fund: MDIF advises on how to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on your media business.
Media resources
- UNESCO: Audio resources to counter disinformation: “To contribute to countering misinformation on COVID-19, UNESCO has produced a series of audio messages that can be freely used by radio stations from around the world.” They are available in multiple languages.
- UNESCO has also created the Resource Center of Responses to COVID-19, which “includes a collection of examples of actions related to communication and information made available for the purpose of sharing practices, identifying priorities, facilitating partnerships, amplifying good practices, providing advice and technical assistance to governments and relevant national stakeholders, and fostering North-South, South-South, and triangular cooperation.”
- The WHO media resources
- This includes access to live press briefings on Covid-19 in video, audio and transcript formats.
- Sign up to press briefings here
Online courses
- COVERING COVID-19 COURSES – A range of free online training programmes organised by the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas at Austin.
- Thompson Foundation Journalism Now – Reporting on Covid-19 (Available in various languages)The Thompson Foundation has launched a series of online courses that will provide extra training for journalists and media professionals reporting on Covid-19. They include safety, verification and content.
Webinars
- COVID-19 – Role of Media in Addressing Stigma This webinar, conducted by Internews, the International Federation of Red Cross, the United Nations Population Fund, and BBC Media Action, discusses the role the media plays in combating stigma and prejudice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Dart Center has posted a succession of online discussions about the challenges facing journalists working in the midst of Covid-19. The discussions, which are anchored by Dart Center executive director Bruce Shapiro, focuses on finding inventive approaches and solutions to shared struggles: Reporting and Covid-19: A Webinar Series for Journalists
Over the past few months, the International Journalists’ Network (IJNET) has held webinars on the COVID-19 pandemic. The 43-part series is available to watch on YouTube. Some notable recent webinars from the series are:
In this International Journalists’ Network (IJNET) resource, three experts discuss how journalists are experiencing the COVID-19 ‘disinfodemic’ and working to counter it through the tasks of fact-checking and debunking streams of false claims.
Around the world communities of color have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic evident by the disparities in mortality rates and access to health care. In addition, they face dire economic consequences with national lockdowns and restrictions of movement, discrimination by law enforcement, and prejudice by their societies at large. This webinar will discuss what journalists need to know when reporting on these communities — the do’s and don’ts — how to frame stories, be sensitive to often underrepresented voices, and amplify them in a way that leads to government accountability.
[Text sourced from IJNET]
The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) hosted this webinar in partnership with the the Caribbean Broadcasting Union to bring together media practitioners and health professionals to discuss how journalists and communicators can responsibly report on the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Reuters Institute for Journalism (RISJ) has also been hosting regular webinars about Covid-19 and journalism, such as:
- ‘Navigating the ‘infodemic’: key findings from our report on how people access news about Coronavirus’
- ’A guide to statistics for journalists‘ – this webinar is led by Denise Lievesley, Principal at Green Templeton College and former Director of Statistics at UNESCO. Here, she explores how journalists should best use statistics in their daily jobs. Check their website for upcoming webinars.
- ‘The Threat to Africa’ discusses tips for Investigating COVID-19 in Africa. GIJN shares a few key takeaway points
- Here is a list of GIJN’s completed webinars in their “Investigating the Pandemic” series.
- Visualizing COVID-19 Data: Tips and Traps Getting a grip on data is critical to reporting the pandemic – life and death decisions are being made on the basis of numbers. But working with data, especially in a specialist field like health, is challenging and data – and all those pie charts and graphs that visualise it – can lead us astray: all data needs to be questioned, checked and verified. Data also needs to be communicated and shared with audiences in ways that are clear, compelling – and accurate.In this webinar, Visualizing COVID-19 Data — Tips and Traps, we bring together three leading experts who share their advice and tips on how to verify and present data. [Text sourced from GIJN]
General Public
Knowing how to tell fact from fiction during a global health crises can prove just as challenging in a climate where there is an abundance of information (some refer to this as an infodemic). This is escalated even more so by social media. Here we have pulled together a list of key organisations and resources that the general public can turn to for credible information about Coronavirus.
Read more: Explore our previous round-up of recommended sources and fact-checked information
Their work on coronavirus pandemic is updated daily and can be found here.
EPI-WIN/the WHO public resources
This includes a range of resources on Covid-19 for the general public, including Q&As with experts from the World Health Organisation, advice on preparing your workplace for Covid-19 and considerations regarding mental health during the global health emergency.
John Hopkins University of Medicine: CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE CENTER
Johns Hopkins experts in global public health, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness have been at the forefront of the international response to COVID-19. This website is a resource to help advance the understanding of the virus, inform the public, and brief policymakers in order to guide a response, improve care, and save lives.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) free online course.
- LSHTM also have seminars and panel discussions on Coronavirus.
WHO Health Alert (Whatsapp resource)
The service “has been designed to answer questions from the public about Coronavirus, and to give prompt, reliable and official information 24 hours a day, worldwide. This will also serve government decision-makers by providing the latest numbers and situation reports.” It will become available in several different languages in coming weeks.
Public media organisations
Public media organisations have been utilising their different platforms to provide the public with the latest developments on Coronavirus. This includes moving away from traditional one-to-one broadcasts and interacting with their audiences to ensure that a dialogue is created about Coronavirus. Examples include:
- ABC Australia
- Public Q&As
- ABC & Expression AustraliaABC and Expression Australia launch weekly national news in AUSLAN (Australian sign-language). From the first weekend in April, ABC NEWS channel’s Sunday 6.00pm AEST national news bulletin will be picture-in picture Auslan interpreted. The bulletin will also include a two-minute segment with specific information for the Australian Deaf community in Auslan.
- BBC – Your questions answered
- CBC/R-C /RDI – Plans to make content more accessible
- Deutsche Welle – DW’s dedicated Coronavirus page includes regional updates on Coronavirus developments.
- France Info – #OnVousRépond (French)
- NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, has a page on their news website dedicated to Coronavirus updates. Information is summarised at 10:30am every day, containing “compiled information obtained from local government and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare”. It includes interactive graphs, tables and categorised articles. Information is also available on the NHK News and Disaster Prevention App. (Japanese)
- NDR – The German public broadcaster has responded to the need for information with a new coronavirus podcast that provides an update on the situation every day.
- NPR has launched a special seriesspecial series giving the public access to everything they need to know about the pandemic.
- PBS – PBS launched a new audio series as part of their Frontline Dispatch podcast as well as Answering your questions on Coronavirus on PBS NewsHour
- RNZ – New Zealand’s public broadcaster has produced ‘Coronavirus: A glossary of terms’. This is to help those who are “out of the loop, cut down on misinformation” and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
- RTVE – The Spanish public broadcaster has produced an interactive map and other visual features to illustrate Coronavirus developments in Spain and across the world (Spanish)
- SABC – South Africa’s public broadcaster has pinpointed designated hospitals for managing the virus in the country on Google Maps via their website as well as documented cases of Covid-19 in Africa in a video entitled, “Coronavirus footprint in Africa”
- SBS Australia has launched the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus Portal, a dedicated online information hub for multicultural communities to easily access accurate and trusted news and information about COVID-19, in their language.
Social media
We recommend following these social media accounts.
- #CoronaVirusFact/#DatosCoronaVirus are key hashtags to follow on Twitter. However, we urge caution as hashtags can easily be coopted for non-relevant content.
Trusted Fact checkers
Recommended factchecking services include:
- Africa Check (Guide). African fact-checking organisation, Africa Check, provides three tips on how to tell fact from fiction during the pandemic. Also available in French.
- The WHO mythbusters, BBC’s Reality Check, Full Fact UK and Poynter’s International Fact-checking Network. These are helping to de-bunk misleading information surrounding the virus.
- Politifact: 7 ways to avoid misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic
- “PolitiFact has fact-checked a lot of popular social media posts about the 2019 coronavirus, COVID-19.” They have also created “a guide with seven ways to avoid falling for some of the most common falsehoods about epidemics like the coronavirus.”
Children's Content
Public media and non-profit organisations
As more governments make the difficult decision to close schools and universities, it is increasingly up to parents to answer key questions that children and young people may have about coronavirus. This includes how it may affect them and their local communities as well as the reasons why they are being forced to leave the classroom in some cases. It is also their responsibility to debunk some of the myths about Covid-19.
Fortunately numerous public media and non-profit organisations have created specialised content for explaining the ins and outs of Covid-19 to children as well as educational programmes that young people can engage with outside of school.
The ABC has launched an expanded schedule of free education content to support students, teachers and parents, with so many children forced to learn at home due to the coronavirus global pandemic.
BBC Newsround (UK)
Videos, advice and the latest information on Coronavirus tailored specifically for a younger audience.
CBC Kids (Canada)
- CBC Kids provides news, articles and videos by young people, for young people, with specialised content on Coronavirus
- CBC also offers advice for explaining coronavirus to children
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
Czech TV has been airing a “virtual classroom” show, which will continue until schools reopen.
The Greek government has launched a channel that they hope will help parents with the challenge of home schooling. Now any child with a television can get access to Greek language lessons, natural sciences, mathematics, history.
KBS (South Korea)
KBS is providing and combining extensive educational and entertainment content especially for children and students due to classes in the country being postponed amid the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
Nat Geo Kids has compiled some key facts about the novel coronavirus, what young people can do and whether they should be worried. This is written in a clear-cut, accessible way.
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- Also check out their free online school resources in their Primary Resources section. Core subjects, including English, Maths and Science are covered as well as wider curriculum, such as space and Ancient Egypt. All are aligned with the National Curriculum and the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.
NHK (Japan)
“NHK for School” is a platform that has released close to 2000 educational programmes and 7,000 related videos. NHK organises programmes that support children’s learning on the radio. They also provide news with “easy” Japanese here.
RTÉ (Ireland)
- Coronavirus explained for younger viewers: “Coronavirus has dominated the headlines recently, but what is it? news2day, our children’s news programme, put together this explainer for young and not so young viewers alike”
Save the Children – Keeping kids entertained during lockdown.
- Coronavirus and Kids: Resources from Save the Children – Save the Children is providing tools and tips you can trust for parents, caregivers, teachers and all those who care about children in crisis.
In cooperation with teachers’ associations, the French language Swiss public broadcaster, SRF, is developing the “SRF mySchool” programme. It is also expanding the online format “Zwei am Morge” on the SRF 2 television channel, continuously increasing the number of explanatory videos and providing special interactive content on its radio channels.
UNESCO – COVID-19 Education Response
The Global Education Coalition launched by UNESCO seeks to facilitate inclusive learning opportunities for children and youth during this period of sudden and unprecedented educational disruption.
“What you need to know about the virus to protect you and your family”
US Public Media
- NPR has created a comic for children about Coronavirus based on a radio story by NPR Education reporter, Cory Turner.
- Listen to the original radio story here
- PBS children’s channel, PBS KIDS, pooled together tools and multi-platform content, using videos, games and activities to practice healthy habits.
- For more examples of US public media organisations providing educational content for students during the coronavirus outbreak, read this article by TVNewsCheck for an extensive round-up.
Guidance for children/schools: “In the event of school closures, the guidance includes recommendations to mitigate against the possible negative impacts on children’s learning and wellbeing. This means having solid plans in place to ensure the continuity of learning, including remote learning options such as online education strategies and radio broadcasts of academic content, and access to essential services for all children. These plans should also include necessary steps for the eventual safe reopening of schools.”
ZDF (Germany)
The German public broadcaster has created a virtual classroom for children to access and engage with educational content while not at school.
Funds & Grants
During crises and emergencies, the public rely on access to quality and accountable news media for up to date information. But in periods of isolation, other information and entertainment content is needed to not only educate but also to offer shared experiences and companionship as well as education for children at home.
The problem is, this content needs to be made and refreshed, and the coronavirus pandemic poses significant threats to media professionals and freelancers, especially in terms of job security.
The following section offers links to funding grants and opportunities for audiences and media professionals alike, to offer a sense of security in these troubling times.
Around the world public media organisations and funders have also launched funds to support producers, freelancers and creators during the coronavirus pandemic. For more details about these opportunities, check out our dedicated public media funding page.
BBC Local Radio (UK only)
The BBC has announced a new scheme to provide free DAB radios to the most vulnerable people aged over 70. The scheme, which will see local BBC stations team up with manufacturers, retailers and charities, aims to tackle cases of loneliness as the country undergoes isolation measures. More information can be found at bbc.co.uk/makeadifference
The Commonwealth Foundation special COVID-19 grants call
The Commonwealth Foundation has created the COVID-19 special grant to support civil society organisations (CSOs) working alongside governments in their recovery process from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications are accepted from all Commonwealth Member states and a sum of between £10,000 – £30,000 will be awarded for up to one year.
Deadline: 18 September
COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists
This rolling emergency fund from the National Geographic Society applies to journalists worldwide wishing to cover the impact of the virus in their communities. This fund will particularly focus on underserved populations and where there is a “dearth of evidence-based information getting to those who need it.” The fund will distribute support ranging from $1000-8000 USD.
European Commission – Media Freedom Projects
Co-funding is available from the European Commission for projects to promote media freedom, investigative journalism and defend journalists under threat. More than ever the public require access to quality and factchecked news and information. A variety of funds are available, including one to strengthen cross-border investigative journalism.
European Journalism COVID-19 Support Fund
““The European Journalism Centre (EJC) and the Facebook Journalism Project (FJP) have launched a $3 million USD fund to support hundreds of community, local and regional European news organisations. There are three tracks that will provide grants ranging between €5,000 and €50,000. Priority will be given to small and medium-sized news organisations supporting the communities most affected by the crisis. Applications for wave 1 of the European Journalism COVID-19 Support Fund are now closed.” However, you may sign up for more information on when applications for the other tracks open.”
[Text sourced from the European Journalism Fund]
Internews Rapid Response Fund (Worldwide)
Internews launched the Rapid Response Fund to help small, local news organisations worldwide survive in the face of COVID-19. The fund will launch with $100,000 to be made available immediately and is targeting $1 million in donations to provide immediate support for journalists globally. Deadline: 28 May 2020
”The IWMF’s Journalism Relief Fund is open to women-identifying journalists in dire straits – journalists who have faced significant financial hardship, lost work, were recently laid off or who urgently need assistance to avoid severe, irreversible outcomes. This fund will provide small grants of up to $2,000 USD per request. However, special consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to those who have greater financial need.”
Netflix, Netherlands Film Fund offer COVID-19 relief; Drive secures factual sales
In conjunction with The Netherlands Film Fund, Netflix has set up a relief fund for those working within the film and television industry. Netflix plans to make €1 million (US$1.09 million) available to filmmakers, freelancers, cast and crew members as well as other professionals involved in production.
NZ on Air: Rapid Response Content (New Zealand)
“At a time when New Zealanders are consuming more content than ever and local storytelling is essential to our mental health and wellbeing, it has been heartening to see the creative sectors immediately respond with a desire to create meaningful content in ‘lock down’. We intend to allocate a minimum of $400k to a Rapid Response RFP to provide opportunities for the production industry during this tough period.”
Radio funds to combat impact of COVID-19 crisis
Asia Radio Today has compiled a list of funds from around the world that are available for radio broadcasters struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. These include:
- Radio Academy Fund – Audio and Radio Emergency Fund (UK)
- Community Broadcasting Fund – Coronavirus Crisis Fund (Australia)
- Audio Content Fund – 60 Second Support Fund (UK)
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Rory Peck Trust: COVID-19 Hardship Fund (Worldwide)
This fund is aimed at freelance journalists worldwide. The Trust assists freelancers in four main ways: Assistance Grants, Training Funds, Safety Clinics and Freelance Resources.
The Film and TV Support Line (UK)
The BFI and The Film and TV Charity have partnered to create a new industry-backed Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund to help support the creative community, which like many industries, has been devastated by the pandemic. It will provide emergency short-term relief to the many thousands of active workers and freelancers who have been directly affected by the closure of productions across the UK. The support line has already received a £1million donation from Netflix and £700,000 from the BBC.
Header Image: White face mask with a map of the world is lying on a blue background. Credit: domin_domin/iStock