News and information that journalists need to serve the public and stay safe.
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NBC News employee who tested positive for COVID-19 dies
Larry Edgeworth, a longtime NBC News employee,
died Thursday after testing positive for coronavirus
last week. Edgeworth (shown in this NBC News photo) is the first known news organization employee in the U.S. to die from the disease. The 61-year-old worked at NBC News for 25 years, most recently in an equipment room at the company’s 30 Rock headquarters in New York City. He was a veteran audio technician who worked with network correspondents around the world, NBC said. "Larry was a gentle bear of a man, the heart and soul of our extended NBC family," said Andrea Mitchell, NBC News' chief foreign affairs correspondent. At least two other NBC News employees have tested positive, NBC said. The network is requiring most staffers across the country to work from home.
OTHER HEADLINES
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The ABCs of self-care: Awareness, balance, and connection
Journalists rush in when other people are running out, putting them on the frontline during times of crisis.
We’re working in isolation. Schools are closed. Social outings are off.
It’s all hitting home. And this time, it’s different.
Dr. Kevin Becker, a Boston-area trauma psychologist with more than
30 years experience
and a keen interest in journalism-related trauma, says being aware of your feelings is the first step. Becker is hosting a weekly chat for journalists — shared in the
Journalists Covering Trauma
Facebook group — to discuss challenges and coping mechanisms as they continue to cover coronavirus.
Becker offered these ABCs of self care in an interview on Friday.
Awareness
- Are you sleeping as much as you should be?
- Has your eating changed?
- Has your ability to get things done shifted?
- Are your relationships with loved ones suffering?
Balance
“Once you are aware how your work is affecting you, seek balance,” Becker said.
- Take breaks.
- Find creative outlets.
- Consider training activities. “Upping your level of professional development can balance out constant exposure to things that are draining you,” Becker said.
- Create a healthy routine: exercise, regular sleep, healthy eating. ”They all have a part in bringing balance into your life,” Becker said.
Connection
“Nobody recovers in isolation,” Becker said. “And here we are in a pandemic, and we’re being told to be isolated.”
- Figure out how you can stay connected during this time. Digital tools make it easier than before.
- It’s especially important, Becker said, to stay connected with the people we care about and who we know care about us.
- Avoid staying connected to talk about work.
“It’s really the connectedness with others that helps us best cope with trauma, with crisis,” Becker said.
Connect with others:
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Try this: Give readers (and nonreaders) a place to share their stories
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Executive Editor at The Commonwealth Times
Virginia Commonwealth University
Geen and her student media team have
set up a form
where “people who have been affected by COVID-19 in any way (classes canceled, having to stay on campus with limited resources, job loss, or people who have gotten sick themselves) can fill out their information to share their experiences. I've seen a lot of other college outlets do this recently, so we wanted to give it a try.”
“We've experimented a bit in the past with social media callouts, but I think we've found with this that a Google form is a better strategy when you're looking for a lot of information from people.”
Thanks for the tip, Georgia.
Watch New York Times investigative reporter Sarah Kliff describe how to use forms and other callouts to
find people for policy stories
during our Policy for the Public workshop.
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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Jim Kuhnhenn, and Julie Moos.
Send us your questions and suggestions
for topics to cover.
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The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement. Support our important work with a tax-deductible contribution today.
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