Page 13 - Beyond COVID-19

COVID-19 Brought Changes to Journalists

he traditional way of producing news such as FaceTime, Zoom, and Skype. And practice is a chance for journalists to train
Tstories has been totally changed due reporters must check their camera, micro- their professional skills and discover more
to the pandemic. In the past, journalists phone, and Internet connection before con- possibilities.
conducted face-to-face interviews, went out ducting interviews and make sure everything
to take pictures and shoot videos, and flew is good to go. Varsity, though facing difficulties brought
around the world to cover stories. by the pandemic, is taking this opportunity
Having phone calls or video calls record- to go global. We have taken advantage of
But now the situation has changed a lot. ed does not mean journalists can relax. physical location of international students
Travel disruptions, quarantine policies, and Accidents can happen. If they forget to click to produce stories in different parts of Asia.
risk of being infected caused by the pan- the record button, they will lose everything Students from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong
demic have made it impossible to stick to after the interview. Jotting down notes is Kong and South Korea produce news stories
the old way of reporting. still necessary. from their home countries and make Varsity
a magazine with a global reach.
Conducting virtual interviews is a great In a situation where it seems that the
challenge for reporters. Journalists need to pandemic will not end soon, journalists
have a good command of new online tools have to learn new skills and tools. This new By Ella Lang

Civil Resilience during the Pandemic

he online colloquium with Japanese students was held on Feb- equipment in the community.
Truary 19. In the colloquium, Landscape Architecture Professor
Jeff Hou from the University of Washington gave a presentation on It is eye-opening to know that other places around the earth, like
civic resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. the U.S. and Singapore, also have similar groups to act and help the
community during this hardship, as I learned from the presentation.
I am aware of the power of civil groups and citizens to help the
needy in our society, especially during emergencies. I think civil groups have to take further action to continue growing
and increasing their influence.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out in Hong Kong, a lot
of people could not get enough masks. The situation of the elderly They can work harder to promote themselves since they are rather
was even more serious as they did not know how to purchase masks new in our society and people are still unaware of them. They can
online. also find partners such as schools and volunteer associations to
collaborate in providing greater help to our community.
My friend invited me to donate ten surgical masks at that time,
which he then distributed to elderly people living near his home. It The actions of civil groups can supplement the government as they
was shocking as the whole project was initiated by himself only. know their target groups better than the government. The presence
of these groups is essential during emergencies, but it is also impor-
During the pandemic, a lot of small concern groups which mainly tant to keep them running when emergencies are over.
consist of ordinary citizens have been formed in our city. They act
on different matters such as conservation and provision of hygiene By Felicia Lam

ImpactHK, a registered NGO dedicated in offering help to the homeless, provides services during COVID-19.