A wide range of COVID-19 news stories have provided multiple perspectives on the impact of the pandemic. Different media houses have provided information on the number of tested cases, exposed the government’s handling of aspects such as funding and provided various experiences of citizens in this season. The wide range of news disseminated from different sources are questioning official journalistic norms, shaping alternative journalism approaches, and moving beyond advertising as the primary source of journalism revenue.

Through new technologies, news production and distribution is now beyond the traditional newsroom. The producers of news content are increasingly building audiences by taking advantage of the digital infrastructure to collect, produce and disseminate information that is not controlled by the government or official accounts. These alternative sources tell their stories through different ways like the analysis of news through extended conversations, blogs, posts on Instagram and Facebook and through funny clips on Tiktok. They are constantly questioning, documenting and commenting on what they produce.

The emergence of new actors in news production comes with a range of benefits like the enablement of voices of the non-elite. Now it is possible for the urban people to voice their opinions. These digital spaces are also enabling different storytelling formats as there is no restrictions on how to generate content. Most content creators are now choosing to document the stories of ordinary people, advocate for justice, and empower citizens. They are more proactive in pushing for social change and in engaging community.

Although the pandemic has disrupted traditional revenue streams, highly engaged audiences provide an opportunity for media firms to grow their subscriber base and advertisers to reach a greater audience. This shift is likely to last beyond the Covid-19.