At IMI training, journalists learned how to keep balance and not to spread panic about coronavirus

On March 10, the Institute of Mass Information held workshop for journalists and public service employees on coronavirus coverage (strain Covid-19) in Ukraine. The journalists asked questions about balancing the need to provide negative information while not provoking panic.

More than 20 journalists from national Ukrainian mass media and representatives of press services from different regions of Ukraine took part in the event.

The participants of the training listened to the speakers' reports: Jarno Habikht, World Health Organization in Ukraine official, Olena Golub, media expert of the Institute of Mass Information, Roman Golovenko, IMI lawyer, and Lyubov Velichko, journalist for Texty.org.ua.

This IMI training was organized. As the first case of coronavirus disease has been detected in Ukraine (strain Covid-19).

WHO representative in Ukraine Jarno Habicht spoke about the international rules for reporting outbreaks of the disease and up-to-date information on coronavirus.

IMI expert Olena Golub told how to properly cover disease outbreaks, not to sow panic, but to present real state of things, how to deal with crisis situations. She also spoke of professional standards of journalism the mass media outlets and public officials had to comply with.

IMI Lawyer Roman Golovenko advised participants as to coverage of personal data in journalistic materials, how to work with them. In addition, the lawyer explained what controversial issues may arise due to spread of coronavirus in Ukraine.

The journalist with Texty.org.ua magazine Lyubov Velychko spoke of timely investigation into the excessive popularity of botnets, orchestrated panics, and misinformation. Lyubov Velychko spoke about the investigation into the significant impact of various social networks on protests in Novy Sanzhary.

The training was organized by IMI together with the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), which hosted the meeting.

The recommendations of IMI experts for media coverage of outbreaks of diseases are available here.

Some tips on how to reduce the emotionality of news items, to reduce tension in society and prevent panic are available here .