NewsBeat

April 2020 NewsBeat 3 Tools for local journalists rom tracking the numbers to fighting misinformation, covering the coronavirus pandemic is challenging local journalists. While the journalism community has stepped up with a number of resources to help, the sheer number of can be overwhelming. The resources can also often hard to find, especially if you're elbows deep into proofing pages and editing copy. Here, consequently, is a roundup of some of the resources available to you in the weeks and months ahead. While there are a number of fancy maps and websites providing statistics on people affected by the virus, the easiest source for New Yorkers is the state's own coronavirus website: https:// coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. I've tracked the various sites for a number of days and found the state website offers the most up-to-date numbers out there, with updates posted each day. For readers When your readers have questions, consider referring them to The News Literacy Project (newslit.org), which has created a special virus resource page for teachers and the general public. The page includes an interactive quiz on the virus as well as tips and other tools for helping people discern fact from faction. "We hope these efforts will support educators by providing them with distance-learning resources that equip students with the ability to debunk harmful misinformation, both in general and about this virus," Alan C. Miller, founder and CEO of the News Literacy Project, said on the page. "It's critical that students understand the vital importance of verified information, especially during a time of crisis." For journalists The Journalist's Toolbox (journaliststoolbox.org), a project of the Society of Professional Journalists, is a good place to start if you're looking for general information on the pandemic The page is a springboard to a wealth of data and resources about this epidemic. There are links here to official sources such as the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control as well as the Johns Hopkins mapping data, the Covid Tracking Project and nine fact-checking websites. The Journalist's Toolbox is also a valuable first stop because it also includes links to virus-related articles from industry resources such as the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Poynter.org's newsletter has distributed a reliable and steady stream of pertinent information about the coronavirus each day. It's a quick read each day and typically offers useful content you won't see elsewhere. The Lenfest Institute and Nieman Lab are also offering daily coverage. Tools and tips Avoid subjective adjectives, choose expert sources carefully, explain to readers what we know and what we don't know, avoid clickbait headlines, and other best practices and pieces of advice are included in coronavirus coverage guides published by organizations such as the Global Investigative Journalism Network and the International Center for Journalists. Journalist's Resource, a program at Harvard's Shorenstein Center, has tackled a number of topics related to covering the virus, from what might be happening to small businesses and the broader economy and oil prices to the inequality of forcing people to work from home. You can find all at https:// journalistsresource.org. Shorenstein's Journalist's Resource also provides some practical advice for covering complex scientific topics. In a Scientific American blog, two Harvard epidemiologists encourage journalists to slow down, seek diverse sources of information and distinguish between whether something ever happens and whether it is happening at a frequency that matters. You can find a link to the blog via the Journalist's Resource page. Scientists and public health experts are producing a number of valuable articles on the coronavirus via The Conversation (theconversation.com), an independent, non-profit news organization funded by foundations and universities. From why older folks are more prone to virus complications to your legal rights if under quarantine, smart ways for kids to use screen time and how to stop touching your face, The Conversation has a wealth of fascinating reads. Best of all, they can be reprinted for free. F By JUDY PATRICK — NYPA vice president of editorial development

• Cover