"The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can spread rapidly and cause a lot of harm. But if communities respond appropriately and quickly, it is possible to limit its spread and the damage it causes. Mass media and communication have an absolutely vital role to play in this effort. Media can: provi ... de audiences with crucial information on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus; keep people up to date on the support services available and how to access them; counter dangerous rumours and incorrect information; hold authorities to account over their responsibility to protect the population; provide a platform for those affected or at risk to raise their concerns and needs, ask questions, and explore solutions; reassure and motivate people to help themselves and others. BBC Media Action has developed this handbook to help media support their audiences to face this health emergency." (Introduction) more

"This manual provides tips for media practitioners on how to help audiences during health emergencies. It can be read in conjunction with BBC Media Action’s Lifeline Production Manual (available online) which provides more general guidance on how to communicate with people affected by humanitarian ... crises in order to help save lives and reduce suffering. Public health emergencies can start quickly or very slowly. This manual will address those that start relatively quickly: rapid onset public health emergencies." (Introduction) more

"The guide is not about how to use media for public relations or fund-raising purposes; it focuses on working with media to share useful and actionable information with communities affected by crisis. Humanitarians call this kind of communication different things: “community engagement”, “comm ... unication with communities”, “beneficiary communication” or “humanitarian communication”. They all mean the same thing: harnessing the power of communication to save lives. The focus is on local and national media because, if you want to reach local communities you need to go through local channels, which can provide specific, localised information and are in close proximity to their audiences." (Introduction) more

"The purpose of Lifeline programming is to make content for people affected by humanitarian crises in order to help save lives and reduce suffering [...] Lifeline programming requires a different approach from conventional newsgathering and reporting. It involves sharing practical, actionable inform ... ation that audiences can use to improve their situation, and also providing encouragement and reassurance. It’s about reporting for those affected rather than about them. Topics may include issues around safety, food, water, shelter, health, hygiene, trauma and more." (Page 4) more