Journalists need to be worried not just about passing the virus on to colleagues, but also spreading false information about the disease
As the coronavirus epidemic continues to escalate around the world, false claims and misinformation have also gone viral.
With the role of reporters even more important during such a crisis, there is a heightened responsibility to not fall for conspiracy theories and fake news.
Daniel Funke, fact-checker at PolitiFact, has a seven-point plan to prevent you from spreading misinformation in this article.
Although we may not be health experts by trade, Funke advises learning the basics of the disease to make such false claims easier to spot.
"What are the symptoms? How does it spread? What diseases is it similar to? The more basic information you have about the disease, the better prepared you'll be to spot online misinformation."
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
Sign up to receive job alerts of your choice by email, or manage your subscription
Featured recruiter: click to view its vacancies
New digital journal covering inflation and rate setting seeks a talented writer with experience as a financial journalist to use data to produce specialist content
Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news, tips, jobs and more
End that deadline stress today and find help in our freelance directory
Personal trainer James Hilton has launched a podcast 'Jim's Gym - Inspiring Movement'. James, a specialist in biomechanics and injury recovery from the Cotswolds, runs Jim's Gym, a virtual online space supporting people over 55 to be more active
Our next Newsrewired conference will be in May 2025, London.
Conferences and study weeks are fantastic opportunities to get the latest updates on the industry and network with your peers
Awards are a great way to have your hard work recognised by industry experts and celebrate your teams. Here is where you can apply
If you find your social feeds a tad too heavy on men's voices, follow and connect with these fantastic women experts on indie media
How do you move print readers to digital? Are there other ways to hold on to subscribers besides a last-ditch deal?
