Broadcasting in the Time of Corona: A webinar

During this webinar we explored how broadcasters working across the industry have responded to some of the challenges posed by COVID-19, comparing coping strategies, issues around the practicalities of making good content and earning a living at the same time.

The eleven months leading up to January 2021 have been a challenging time for people working in the media and broadcasting. Early on in the pandemic, this sector was among those predicted to be the hardest hit by COVID-19. Yet at the same time that content-makers found themselves having to grapple with new ways of working, audiences have relied on them for crucial up-to-the-minute, reliable information as well as for entertainment and a way to counter the isolation or connect with their community while socially distanced. And just when we thought it was almost all over, most of the UK is in lockdown again.

So how have producers, presenters and content-makers working at the coal face of the industry coped?

Our panelists offered personal stories and their insight into how to manage the challenges of working under the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 – from social distancing guidelines to cancellations, studio closures, remote working and new technologies. They also spoke about how audience-demands and their relationships with those audiences have changed during the pandemic. It’s been said that “religion had a good pandemic” – did broadcasting that engaged with faith fare as well? And… what about the next generation? What’s in store for people starting their careers during such tumultuous times?

Panelists (listed alphabetically) :

REMONA ALY, Journalist and Broadcaster with a focus on faith and lifestyle, Director of Communications for Exploring Islam Foundation.

OLIVE CLANCY, Senior Producer BBC Audio North.

DAN LUCAS, Producer BBC Radio Visualisation.

ANGELA ROBSON, Journalist, documentary-maker and communications consultant.

DAVID STRACHAN, Television Producer and Strategist, founding managing director of Tern Television.

HOST:

THE RT REVD DR HELEN-ANN HARTLEY, Bishop of Ripon and Chair of the Sandford St Martin Trust.

This Sandford St Martin Media Salon has been made possible through funding by the Allchurches Trust.