Covering unrest: When journalists of color become the target
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PT
Online
Journalists have been arrested, shot with rubber bullets, and sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray as protests have engulfed the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police. The arrest of CNN Correspondent Omar Jimenez during a live shot in Minneapolis was only the most visible example in a series of perilous police encounters for journalists. And the hazards facing reporters in the field go well beyond physical safety. During a time when COVID-19 has already left the reporting ranks battling exhaustion and vicarious trauma, covering these protests and police clashes can exact a steep toll on journalists’ mental health. That’s especially true for black journalists and other journalists of color, who are covering systemic racism against their own communities and who face unique risks as members of the media and because of their race. In this webinar, we’ll take a deeper look at those physical and mental health risks, identify coping strategies, and offer practical tips and suggestions on staying safe while covering two overlapping crises — nationwide protests and COVID-19