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Some thoughts, a thread if you will, on media call outs on stranded Victorians:
During the lockdowns, I posted call outs on here asking to speak to people who had lost their jobs, or businesses that were struggling and were worried they might not survive.
During the lockdowns, I posted call outs on here asking to speak to people who had lost their jobs, or businesses that were struggling and were worried they might not survive.
This is not because I thought the lockdowns were unnecessary, or over the top. I understood, as I think most though not all Victorians did, that they were vital to saving lives.
But I also thought that it was important to reflect how the pandemic was affecting people's lives. It is the biggest event in a generation. And the impacts it has had on people – their livelihoods, their mental health – are worthy of reporting.
When we look back on the news clippings of this time in a decade's time, I think we will want to have a broad picture of what happened. Of how our lives were affected.
Again, none of this is to question the actual policy decisions that have been taken. These are also worthy of scrutiny, but this takes place in a different prism: stories where we interview experts, in epidemiology, or criminal justice and other fields.
When we ask to speak to people stranded in Victoria, as I did last week, it's because in these *unprecedented times*, unprecedented things are happening and I think is worth recording these experiences.
There are understandable grievances about the way pandemic has been covered. Really, these reflect media problems that have existed long before the pandemic, but rightly feel far more problematic now, given what we're living through.
I also know it is often very tedious when we journalists close ranks. It comes across as self-important and defensive. We do that too much. I am probably doing that here, but am hopeful this might offer a useful perspective for some.
(Obviously I meant Victorians stranded interstate, not stranded in Victoria.)
Oh and I should add, I haven't faced any real backlash, so no sympathy needed for me. But I thought explaining my thinking might be useful given it's a common practice among all journalists, and one I use often: (hello #robodebt).
