Newsrooms around the country have been struggling for a while now. Last year, furloughs rippled through the industry with layoffs at major companies like Gannett. The COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders present yet another hurdle, as local news organizations are experiencing more furloughs, losing vital advertising dollars, and reporting under the constraints of social distancing—all while trying to keep readers informed during a public health crisis.
For today’s episode, we dive into these issues with Dee Hall, co-founder of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and managing editor of Wisconsin Watch. She gives an on-the-ground account of what it’s like producing local news reporting during the pandemic and discusses the future of journalism.
