A Study on the Role of Constructive Journalism During Covid-19 Pandemic
Lekshmi Priya Sanal1, I. Arul Aram2
1Lekshmi Priya Sanal, Research Scholar, Department of Media Sciences, Anna University, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) India.
2Dr. I. Arul Aram, Professor, Department of Media Sciences, Anna University, Chennai (Tamil Nadu), India.
Manuscript received on 02 May 2024 | Revised Manuscript received on 15 May 2024 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 June 2024 | Manuscript published on 30 June 2024 | PP: 8-12 | Volume-3 Issue-4, June 2024 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijmcj.D107403040624 | DOI::10.54105/ijmcj.D1074.03040624
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© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: An expansive proliferation of misinformation and fake news followed the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a devastating event with lasting scars that changed the world forever. While social media initially helped connect people and share information, it has also facilitated the spread of misinformation and false reports during the pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak cannot be held solely responsible for the mounting scepticism among people regarding mainstream news reporting or the rising news avoidance observed in recent years. The role of news media organisations in disseminating scientific and verified information during pandemic situations is indispensable. However, a shift from the normative role of mass media as a mere informant and mute spectator to one that reflexively gathers and presents socially beneficial news for its audience could have mitigated the misinformation-induced hysteria to some extent during the pandemic’s peak—a constructive approach. This study critically analyses the various discourses surrounding constructive journalism and its role during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that most discourses vouched for the inclusion of constructive approaches in news sharing during crises and in future. However, regional, geopolitical, and socioeconomic differences may lead to varying understandings and contextual applications of constructive journalism, necessitating more in-depth academic research.
Keywords: Constructive Journalism, Covid-19, Fake News, Social Media, Pandemic.
Scope of the Article: Media Studies