For Johnny Edwards, an investigative reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reporting on the Coronavirus has required new levels of resourcefulness and tenacity. “I recently did a story about the outbreak in Albany,” he explains. “And in ordinary times, the first step would be to go to a city and knock on doors. I’ve always done things that put me in harm’s way. It’s part of my job, but I can’t put myself and the communities we serve in danger by taking that large of a risk, so we have to find another way.”
He says it’s times like this where it’s more important than ever to report the truth. “I’m a reporter keeping the public informed. The public is starved for information right now, and they are turning to the AJC. We do not take that responsibility lightly.”
Johnny is just one of the many AJC journalists who have been flexing their communication muscles and keeping Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia informed during the COVID-19 crisis. They are providing an important public service to all members of our community – informing readers, holding public officials accountable, and providing in-depth coverage and resources to keep us safe.
Because of this pandemic, Johnny and his team have had to adjust the way they communicate between themselves and with sources.
“It’s all crazy. Most of us on this team are having to turn stories very quickly. It’s all complex and details matter more than ever. We’re having to find new ways to fact check and get information. But I’ve lost a big tool in my toolbox by not being able to go see sources in person. We’ve also had to step up our teamwork since we’re trying to cover the entire state for varying stories.”
Above all, Johnny says delivering credible, in-depth information to the community is the most important part of doing his job amid COVID-19. “Right now, we’re digging into issues and still doing investigative work. It doesn’t stop because we’re in this crisis.”
He continues, “We have access to public information, and we do it because we’re needed, passionate and want to contribute to the common good. The profession of journalism is enshrined in the First Amendment. Our Founding Fathers put it in there so that there would always be someone asking tough questions and making the country better.”
Where does Johnny’s passion come from? “That’s like asking, ‘why do you want to breathe,’” he says with a laugh. “It’s in my DNA. I’ve always been skeptical of those in authority and what they tell us to do, so I guess I was born with it.”
“Being an investigative reporter brings all that together. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. News is needed so much, especially right now. So many different things are coming at us from our leaders and getting in the way of the truth. That’s why we’re here.”
Having to work from his home, Johnny views the current situation as history in the making and is proud to be an AJC employee. “This pandemic is something we’re living through that will become one of the most significant moments in history. The world won’t be the same after it. I’m proud of how my company is handling it and that’s what will be remembered.”
“Everything works better in the sunshine.”
Click here to learn more about working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The AJC is part of the Cox family of businesses, which are working to build a better future across the five continents where we operate. By informing and empowering readers with credible, in-depth journalism, the AJC is helping to uncover and solve pressing challenges in our home state of Georgia. The newspaper is just one example of how, through our businesses, we’re making a positive difference and lasting impact in the communities we serve.
For Ligaya Figueras, food and dining editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, keeping readers informed and engaged about how food shapes their community is where her passion lies. “Food is something everyone needs to live. During this coronavirus pandemic, food is at the forefront of people’s minds: ‘Where am I going to buy my food? What am I going to cook? How can I cook resourcefully to limit trips to the grocery store?’”
Apart from providing readers with recipes and tips for adapting their food purchasing and meal preparation to quarantine life, Ligaya and her team have followed one of the biggest stories to emerge during the COVID-19 outbreak: restaurants. “Restaurants were among the first businesses to be impacted by the coronavirus and they are among the hardest hit. The food service industry is one of the largest employers, not just in Georgia, but across the country. Livelihoods have been changed by this. We’re telling stories not just of beloved restaurants that have been upended by this public health crisis, but of the people who work there.”
Ligaya is just one of the many AJC journalists who have been flexing their communication muscles and keeping Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia informed, during the COVID-19 crisis. They are providing an important public service to all members of our community – informing readers, holding public officials accountable, and providing in-depth coverage and resources to keep us safe.
One way that Ligaya and her team of writers are covering restaurants is through “Atlanta Orders In.” What’s become a replacement for restaurant reviews, this new weekday installment spotlights restaurants who are safely offering takeout and delivery options.
“We go to restaurants and get a first-hand glimpse at what’s going on. Has a restaurant implemented health and safety practices such as social distancing and contact-free pickup? It’s important for readers to have this kind of information. If we are going to recommend a restaurant for takeout food, the protocol matters as much as the food.”
Ligaya is also pleased with uplifting stories that she and her team have shared with AJC readers. “We’re finding some really beautiful stories of people cooking together during this time, of discovering – or rediscovering – family recipes,” she said of “Community Cooks,” an occasional installment that features reader-sourced cooking stories and recipes. A new weekly online-only column, “Extra Helping,” spotlights acts of generosity by the food community and informs readers how they can get involved. “Restaurants are highly involved in feeding front line healthcare workers and displaced restaurant employees. Their efforts deserve coverage. Readers also want to support their community. A series like ‘Extra Helping’ accomplishes both.”
When it comes to communication, Ligaya says they’ve also turned to Instagram to connect with readers as well as restaurant operators. “Everyone goes there to learn about food. It’s a great source of information.” she says. “When the pandemic first hit Atlanta, we put out a call on Instagram to restaurants to tell us who was open for takeout and delivery. It garnered 139 comments, 539 likes and countless DMs and emails.” She and her team also use Instagram as a source of entertainment for followers. “There’s a lot of heartache and disappointment in the world right now, but we hope we can bring our readers some joy and laughter.”
Despite having made many adjustments to food and dining content in the last few months, Ligaya says AJC readers have been highly receptive. She attributes the increased level of engagement to her team’s transparency. “Being open and clear with readers about changes we’ve made as a result of the Coronavirus builds trust.”
“As I look back on the last few months, I’m reminded that food has always served as a catalyst for building community,” says Ligaya, who has been a food journalist since the mid-2000s. “That’s certainly been the case during these unprecedented times.”
Click here to learn more about working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The AJC is part of the Cox family of businesses, which are working to build a better future across the five continents where we operate. By informing and empowering readers with credible, in-depth journalism, the AJC is helping to uncover and solve pressing challenges in our home state of Georgia. The newspaper is just one example of how, through our businesses, we’re making a positive difference and lasting impact in the communities we serve.
“If you’ve ever seen The Patriot Act on Netflix, my show is like that but more serious and with more journalistic rigor.” This is how Joseph Ferguson, social producer, describes the news video series, “AJC In Context,” he creates for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Joseph was immersed in the world of social media news reporting long before he joined the AJC. Throughout college and his post-grad career, he produced an online news show.
“I look at my position as an opportunity to bridge the gap between classical reporting and the things that are happening on the internet today. The YouTube audience skews younger, so part of my job is to figure out how to keep young people engaged. It’s the AJC in a younger, cultural context – I take a story and put it in an easy digestible way of understanding. Yes, it’s social media, but it’s more about building community and trust, and giving already-great reporting a different coat of paint. I’m lucky that I have a job that I genuinely love to do. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
Joseph is just one of the many AJC journalists who have been flexing their communication muscles and keeping Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia informed during the COVID-19 crisis. They are providing an important public service to all members of our community – informing readers, holding public officials accountable, and providing in-depth coverage and resources to keep us safe.
Above all, Joseph just wants to help people feel engaged, informed and yes, entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When people are engaged with content from a brand they trust, they’re going to actively look for more. It’s about the relationships and community more than raw news.”
“All we want to do is reach the most people and do the best job, while incorporating some lighthearted things. This is what I can do to help change the world and to mold and shift the community, which is really cool to do in a city like Atlanta.”
Mixing the business of reporting the news with the pleasure of social media has always been a passion of his. “I did a lot of Model UN in college, so I’ve always been interested in the news. Not to mention my comfort level with public speaking has always been a strong suit, despite my stutter. With my show, it’s all about incorporating personality with actions to communicate that I’m a person too. A huge brand like the AJC can seem a bit unreachable. With me being fact-based and analytical, I can communicate how I would handle problems like any other person would. I give it a ‘how will this affect me’ lens when solving problems and communicating the news.”
While social media can be produced from anywhere, Joseph says, he misses being in his studio working with his team one-on-one. But when it comes to his workflow and productivity, “There is such an influx of news on the medical, economic and most importantly life aspects of the situation, there are so many ways to parse this. I’ve upped my video production during this time, so I’ve become more productive in a weird way. It’s like a fire hose of news and all I can do is share and curate this information and provide context for my viewers.”
Click here to learn more about working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The AJC is part of the Cox family of businesses, which are working to build a better future across the five continents where we operate. By informing and empowering readers with credible, in-depth journalism, the AJC is helping to uncover and solve pressing challenges in our home state of Georgia. The newspaper is just one example of how, through our businesses, we’re making a positive difference and lasting impact in the communities we serve.
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