Here are some things I’ve learned about working from home with two kids and a husband while trying to launch a new daily story about a critical industry that’s in a critical spot in the midst of a global pandemic:

• My kids’ classmates (and their teachers) can hear when I shout bad words because our Wi-Fi is overloaded. 

• I’ve wondered over the years if it’s possible to feel numb after so many newsroom layoff stories. It is not. 

• It’s a good thing we didn’t Marie Kondo our home because we’re pulling out all kinds of things tucked into drawers and closets to stay busy on weekends and evenings, including hooking up the old Wii. My kids draft me into a Mario Kart tournament every night, and every night they are disappointed that I’m such a bad cartoon driver.

• Also, local journalists are doing incredible work right now. 

I know this because I’m collecting it daily for an afternoon story published on Poynter. What are you working on? I’d love to see it.

Stories we’ve featured so far include: the Capital Gazette reporter who took a buyout and is still helping his former paper with coronavirus story ideas; a powerful profile of a critical care nurse that a reporter was able to conduct via phone thanks to smart reporting and a career on the beat; a look at one way a local TV station is offering a break from the world right now and helping local musicians with livestreamed, at-home concerts; and a new public radio show that shows how we’re all in this together. 

Each day, I’m also sharing a huge list of free resources, training and opportunities for local news, layoffs/furloughs/closures, and some bright spots. 

What are you working on? What do you need? How can we help our colleagues who are struggling right now?

I’m listening, and I’ll see you next week. Or tomorrow. I have no idea what day it is.

Be well. 
 

Poynter's daily roundup of coverage by local news and resources for them is made possible with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation