Exploration of the lived experience of African journalists during the 2014 Ebola crisis

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2017-11

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Abstract

In the case of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa which claimed over 11,000 lives, the virus propagated faster than reliable data. Local journalists faced an unprecedented epidemic and a shortage of credible information. This report explores the experiences of journalists during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Some major findings of the research: credibility, not accessibility was the key criterion when it came to selecting reliable sources; difficulty contacting experts was the most highly ranked issue; local Ministries of Health and Ebola Response Centre were reported as the most difficult sources to access, followed by local authorities and government officials.

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Keywords

EBOLA OUTBREAK, EBOLA, LOCAL JOURNALISM, CRISIS JOURNALISM, SCIENCE JOURNALISM, INFORMATION CRISIS, WEST AFRICA, RESEARCH NEEDS, INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, DISEASE VECTORS, EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE, COMMUNICATION MEDIA, MASS MEDIA, INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS, JOURNALISTS, PRESS, IVORY COAST, LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE, GUINEA CONACKRY, SOUTH OF SAHARA, POLITICAL FACTORS, INTERNET ACCESS, EPIDEMIOLOGY

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