08 Apr 2020 Communication saves lives, strengthens solidarity

The global Covid-19 pandemic has shown how vital it is to get accurate and trusted information to communities in languages and channels that they understand. It has also raised awareness of the opportunities – and rights-based challenges – of digital communication. WACC and its partners are working to strengthen community media and communication rights, and monitoring the rapidly changing digital landscape.

Indigenous community radio addresses critical gap in Covid-19 information

WACC Global’s grassroots partners in Ecuador and Nepal are actively responding to the Covid-19 pandemic by bringing crucial information about the contagious disease in languages that their local Indigenous communities speak and understand.  

Guatemala’s Ixil people launch their own Indigenous community radio

Using the Mayan Ixil language, Community Radio Tiichajil Tenam has provided information about Covid-19 preventive measures, offered recommendations about food and medicinal plants to improve people’s health, as well as other Indigenous knowledge.

Colombia: Broadcast media set up donations for those affected by pandemic

The Intercultural Media Network of Indigenous Peoples (RIMCOPI) and Alcalá radio and television are using their air waves to seek donations for families who are facing hunger due to the impact of Covid-19.

 ‘Don’t forget HIV/AIDS care during Covid-19 pandemic’

Positive Communication Foundation has been calling attention to the plight of people in vulnerable conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic, including those living with HIV-AIDS in Colombia.

Citizen reporters highlight plight of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia

A network of Colombian and Venezuelan citizen reporters launches a Covid-19 prevention campaign targeted at migrants and host communities in Colombia which, like most countries, is grappling with the spread of the contagious disease.  

Northern Uganda: Ensuring rural farmers have a say in Covid-19 response

Radio Apac, Ltd., a community radio station in Northern Uganda and WACC Global project partner disseminates “accurate, reliable and relevant information” about Covid-19 to a largely rural farming population in the districts of Apac, Oyam, Kole, Kwania and Lango. 

Uganda: Women’s radio gets creative in sharing Covid-19 information

A comedy skit, short spot messages, and a Q and A with a doctor who responds to questions from listeners are just some of the ways Mama FM, a women-focused radio station serving the underprivileged in Uganda are delivering critical information about the contagious disease. 

Raising awareness about Covid-19 in Togo

Radio Ephphatha, the Presbyterian Voice, is the denominational radio station of the Presbyterian Evangelical Church of Togo. It is also on the frontlines of raising awareness about Covid-19. 

Bangladesh: Community radio brings life-saving Covid-19 information to rural communities

Sixteen community radio stations and two online radio stations in Bangladesh broadcast Covid-19 related radio programs daily in 16 districts, covering Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong, and reaches about 6.8 million people. Programs are also uploaded on Facebook and YouTube.  

Calling attention to the plight of Syrian refugees during the pandemic

Radio Al Balad, operated by the Community Media Network (CMN), an NGO and WACC partner in Jordan, has been using its airwaves to call attention to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on refugees. 

Digital First Responders

The Center for Community Media investigates how innovative news outlets are meeting the needs of immigrant communities during the pandemic.

UNESCO to support media in developing countries to face coronavirus challenge

Media and journalists around the world play a crucial role, as they provide an essential public service to the population.

Do you speak Covid?

A policy brief by Translators Without Borders on the importance of language in the Covid-19 response.

Covid-19 Migrant Monitor

A web-based initiative that gathers timely and appropriate information directed towards helping migrants during the Covid-19 outbreak, launched by the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants.

CAMECO Media Development Publications and Corona Crisis Advice

Guides, handbooks and other publications about media, humanitarian crisis communication, and more from the Catholic Media Council.

LIVE GUIDE: All our coronavirus fact-checks in one place

Misinformation has been spreading as fast as the coronavirus. Africa Check sorts fact from fiction.

Time to stand up for journalism and journalists – again!

Whatever the crisis – Covid-19, police brutality, climate change – the press best serves the country when it serves its people, not the government.

Community and communication in times of isolation

For our common good, we need to use and promote technologies to unite people and communities who are divided by adversity.

Journalists are key workers in a chaotic world

ethical journalists, and investigative journalists in particular, are “key workers”, vital to the well-being of a country and to a democracy where what ordinary people think actually matters.

Migrant voices in the time of Covid-19

Most migrants are extremely vulnerable both to the health and socio-economic effects of COVID–19. They are constantly on the move, work in the service economy, and have limited access to public services. Women migrants are particularly affected. 

A pandemic of mistrust

Access to independent, diverse and reliable information underlies decision-making that can save lives and livelihoods.

To deny information is to deny human rights

In a global humanitarian crisis that is deadly in its impact, it is callous to the point of obscenity for governments to deny people access to accurate and up to date information that might save lives.

Extraordinary measures, extraordinary protections

More than 100 civil society groups have urged governments not to use the global coronavirus pandemic as cover for future pervasive electronic snooping but to make sure data is erased once the health crisis is over.

No surveillance without safeguarding privacy

Once governments have established ways of tracking and monitoring individuals in the name of national health security, they may become very difficult to undo.

When mainstream media get it right 

Trustworthy public service media are always needed, but never more so than at times of strife, disaster, and emergency.

Digital privacy and the need to know

Collecting personal data for the best of reasons – such as tackling the coronavirus pandemic – has triggered a wave of misgivings.