SPJ Oregon urges newsrooms to move to remote work to slow COVID-19 spread

Providing accurate, trusted information to communities is crucial as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the state.

Journalists around Oregon are working long hours to inform their communities about school closures, graduation, meal sites, city hall closures and emergency response as well as countless other developments during this unprecedented time.

They’re also reporting on guidance from local, state and federal leaders, which has been overwhelmingly clear: Stay home if you can.

Unfortunately, we understand that there are a few newsrooms in Oregon and Southwest Washington where journalists and other staff are still required to come in and work in the office. This despite the fact that working in an office increases the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

This creates an issue of perception and distrust among the communities we serve. If our industry fails to adopt practices recommended by health authorities, why should our readers believe us when we urge them to do the same?

SPJ Oregon urges all newsrooms to enforce social distancing and make whatever arrangements are necessary to allow staff to work from home during this outbreak. While many of our jobs require us to be out in the community, there is no need to unnecessarily increase the risk of spreading the virus among journalists and the communities they cover by requiring physical presence in the office.

“We applaud the many newsrooms that have moved to remote work to lower the risk of spreading the coronavirus,” said Rachel Alexander, SPJ Oregon president. “We implore those that have not yet taken this step to do so now.”