On the night of Dec. 31, 2019, people across the world waited eagerly for midnight to arrive. With it would come a new decade — and new hope. Yet as 2020 began, no one had any idea what was about to come.
In a matter of weeks and months, COVID-19 spread across the globe. Starting in March, shutdowns became commonplace throughout the United States. Events were cancelled. Social distancing became the norm. School and work went online. Mask wearing, for some, became a necessity in public spaces.
At first, these seemed like temporary measures taken to “flatten the curve,” or slow the spread of the virus. Yet COVID-19 didn’t go anywhere in the spring or summer. By fall, it was clear that the pandemic would be with us for some time.
That gave journalism students in the fall 2020 multimedia reporting capstone course at Towson University an obvious angle for final projects as undergraduates. They pitched COVID-19 stories and conducted listening sessions with people in the community. They paired up to research, report and produce multimedia stories on the pandemic. They reported not only on problems — and there were many — but also on solutions.
Reporting from home was a challenge. Yet students reached out to a range of expert sources and people with personal experiences with the topics they covered. Using a range of multimedia tools like text, audio, video, motion graphics and infographics, the reporting teams told compelling narratives. Below is a breakdown of their projects.
The art of online teaching: Educators get creative during a pandemic
Transitioning to online education was difficult for many K-12 teachers, but particularly so for art educators. In spring, as students were sent home due to COVID-19, art teachers scrambled to create lesson plans and projects that didn’t require any materials, as many students had no access to them from home.
Teachers got creative. Wesley Harris and Malena Khan interviewed several art teachers, students and art education experts about how this grand experiment in online art education has gone. There were struggles early on — especially in spring. But by fall, even with little time to prepare, teachers found ways to provide students with enriching online experiences. Some provided art kits for their students, spending their own money to shop for materials. Others used online tools to allow students to post their work and get responses. There’s plenty of uncertainty about spring, but teachers have already shown their creativity in making online learning work.
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- Art education survives through the pandemic.
- Educators get creative to address hands-on learning.
Online school can be a struggle for students with autism
The abrupt shift to online learning in spring was challenging for everyone. It was especially challenging for students with autism who depend on continuity, structure and the help of classroom aides. With all of this taken away, students struggled and stressed-out parents had to step in without training.
Meredith Matz and Jordan Smith report on how parents and teachers have worked together since spring to make the best of a bad situation. With many students still learning from home this fall, everyone has tried to create a new routine. Teachers have created unique plans for each student and tailor instruction time around when parents are available. Yet students are still missing out on in-person socialization and struggle to read social cues online. Everyone hopes online learning is a temporary arrangement.
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- Distance education support for students with autism spectrum disorder.
- Virtual learning is a mixed bag for special education students and parents.
- Parents of special needs students struggle with remote learning.
Bartenders plead with patrons: Put in your order, pull up your mask
For some bars and restaurants, reopening after the initial COVID-19 shutdown was bittersweet. Bartenders and waiters needed income and had mixed luck getting unemployment benefits. Getting back to work was a step in the right direction. But they also knew that enforcing social distancing and mask wearing would be difficult.
Noah Reem and Francesca Sund explore how bartenders and other restaurant workers have navigated the new norm inside their establishments. In short, it’s been a struggle. Patrons don’t always comply with the rules and sometimes get testy when they’re told to put on a mask and stay six feet apart. Bartenders say joyful interactions are few and far between, and they more often feel like parents scolding their children. Meanwhile, the rules keep changing as Maryland mandates what times bars close and how many people they can allow inside. The stress has gotten so bad that some people have quit — or considered doing so. And there’s no immediate end in sight.
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- Restaurants and bars struggle to respond to coronavirus.
- An unemployed bartender’s search for work and stability.
- What it’s like to be a server or bartender during COVID-19.
COVID-19 takes a toll on retail and restaurant managers
These days, it’s common courtesy — and often a requirement — to wear a mask over your nose and mouth and to stay six feet apart from people when inside a store. But what happens when customers refuse to follow the rules? Store managers are often the ones to step in. And those interactions are highly stressful.
Sophia Bates and Andrew Palm report on how restaurant and retail managers have managed to stay sane during COVID-19. It hasn’t been easy. Customers are often rude and dismissive. There’s training to help managers deescalate arguments, but it doesn’t always work. In addition to unruly customers, managers have to deal with upset co-workers, staffing issues, constant cleaning and more. Sometimes their bosses at the corporate level don’t have their backs. Many managers are at a breaking point — and quite a few have taken a break or quit altogether. Those who are still working wish, in some cases, that the store would temporarily close until COVID-19 goes away.
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- Retail workers get trained in how to deal with fights over masks.
- Retail workers are getting pulled into the culture wars of wearing masks.
- “I cry before work” — U.S. essential workers are stressed out.
Log on, lie down and your therapist will be right with you
Across the country, people have reported that their mental health has declined during COVID-19. Anxiety and depression levels have risen. And therapy has become a necessity for many people. But this isn’t your typical “lie-on-the-couch-and-tell-me-your-problems” therapy.
JT Moodee Lockman and Danielle Nadoryk-David examine how online therapy has gone during COVID-19. Therapists have adjusted, and counseling centers on college campuses have bolstered their online programming. It’s become commonplace for young adults to see therapists online as their stress levels have risen during the pandemic. Some college students say online counseling has gone smoothly. Yet others feel conversations aren’t as intimate online and it’s hard to communicate through a screen. There are also plenty of privacy issues. Everyone is making the best of a less-than-ideal situation.
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- What people are talking to their online therapists about during COVID-19.
- Pandemic blues? Online art therapy might help.
- Online therapy just as effective as in-person therapy for many patients.
Coping with addiction is difficult during a time of isolation
COVID-19 has been difficult for everyone. It has hit people with substance abuse problems particularly hard. Isolation and a lack of resources combine to create the perfect recipe for relapse. Yet there are people who are working hard to help addicts — and their families — get through this difficult time.
Ashley de Sampaio Ferraz and John Davis report on how online support groups are helping to fill the void after in-person meetings were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. These meetings are essential resources for people suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. Not everyone is willing to do online sessions, but those who are have come to appreciate that support can come in any environment.
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- Addiction treatment’s COVID-19 challenges.
- Remote resources for addiction support.
- People have gotten clean on Zoom.
Staying fit while staying home is the challenge during COVID-19
When pandemic shutdowns began, gyms and other fitness facilities were some of the first places forced to shut their doors. The shutdowns, meant to help public health, also caused many individuals’ physical activity and fitness routines to be put on hold until further notice. Losing these important routines can be detrimental to a person’s mental health.
Alysse Caldwell and Madison Haller report on why staying active during isolation is so important and examine how people have begun to find creative ways to exercise within their homes. They’ve used household items as workout equipment and used workout videos as motivation. Another way gym-goers have replaced their normal session is by getting outside for walks or hikes on trails. As gyms open up again, they may face difficulties gaining the public’s trust back in them to be clean and safe environments for exercise.
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- How safe is it to work out in a gym?
- Gym owners are confused by restrictions.
- Experts give advice on how to stay fit at home.
“People don’t know what to believe”: Baseless COVID-19 claims fuel distrust in government
The rise of a new, unknown virus was bound to make even the most level-headed among us speculate. COVID-19 brought with it a wave of “fake news” and misinformation that was so vast it was no longer clear what was truth and what was fiction. Skepticism surrounded the virus in its early days, as most people had no idea what to expect. It didn’t help that President Trump and others in his administration were spreading dubious claims.
Rashad Christian and Lisa Irambona explored what it’s been like to be a media consumer during COVID-19 in an age of misinformation, disinformation and fake news. Their podcast covers a range of questions: What false rumors were being spread and by whom? Why do young Americans, in particular, not trust authority figures? What happens when people don’t know if they can trust the top leaders of government during a public health crisis?
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