COVID

IBA's resource page on COVID-19

Coronavirus and Your Station:

We enourage all IBA Members to read the COVID-19 Guidance for Business and Employers: Document available below as pdf file

Supplies: You need to have adequate supplies of cleaning materials to keep your station as safe as possible for employees. In a joint call with the Chicago Department of Public Health, IBA was advised that standard common cleaning products will kill the virus on hard surfaces, those including disinfectants work best. Virus can live on hard surfaces for up to 2-3 days. They also advise that softer surfaces can provide the virus to live to 24 hours and should be discarded if possible. Airborne particles survive 2-3 hours.
Cross training/working from home: In case your employees are exposed, and need to be quarantined, you may want to evaluate who could help cover their workload while they are out, as well as having computers or other equipment to allow them to work from home. Implement social distancing when possible and practice "Symptom Montitoring" in the event of community exposure.
Employees: You may want to review with your corporation the leave policy in case someone is required to self-quarantine at home, or has become infected with the virus. In addition, you may want to consider policies for employees who have school aged children in case their school is closed, and they will need to be able to take care of their children. IBA is currently working with the IDPH for a timeline or matric to be used by station management in the event of positive test results among station staff.

Broadcast News Reporting Guidance:

IBANewsroom will continue to update news coverage tips at: https://www.ibanewsroom.org/

Poynter’s Al Tomkins: “How Newsrooms Can Tone Down Their Coronavirus Coverage While Still Reporting Responsibly.” Read here.
Poynter article: “AP Stylebook Tips on the Coronavirus.” Read here.
Poynter article: Tips for working from home. Read here.
Poynter article: How journalists can fight stress from covering the coronavirus. Read here.
Poynter article: Avoiding misinformation during a pandemic. Read here.
Sign up for a daily COVID-19 newsletter from Poynter.

Coronavirus Information Resources:

Illinois IDPH on Coronavirus, including stats, press releases and more. https://www.dph.illinois.gov
Illinois COVID-19 Website: https://www.coronavirus.illinois.gov
Illinois Municipal League website: https://www.iml.org
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Communication Resources (including video, fact sheets, and posters). Access here.
CDC Real Time COVID-19 Situation Summary. Access here.
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIA) Resource page on Coronavirus. Access here.
United States Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams contact page. Access here.
National Jewish Health Coronavirus Information & Resources, includes travel tips, myth busting and more. Access here.
City of Chicago Information at: www.chicago.gov/coronavirus
Governor's Executive Orde on COVID: https://www.iml.org/file.cfm?key=18394
Live Update on Corona Cases: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx

Other Resources: