Corona-virus affects employees at TV news stations
Coronavirus has not only changed lives, closed stores, and closed schools, it has even changed the world of news. The virus has affected thousands of peoples in the U.S., making major changes in their daily living, their families, their work, and for many others even their health.
Now, because of coronavirus restrictions, only a few employees at a time are allowed to be inside TV stations. Raul Lima, who is a technical director at a Fresno news station, just returned from Europe and must self-quarantine. Lima’s job requires him to be in the station to push buttons on a switcher and direct the newscast. Because he cannot perform this job at home, he is creating graphics and editing videos for the newscast instead.
Lima says he misses being at the station and sharing with his coworkers. H says he even misses the coffee.
“There is something about that bad coffee at work that I miss,” Lima says. “You know, it is kind of bitter. It’s a strong bitter. It’s dark. I miss it. But, I definitely miss my team. I miss having that face to face, being in the same room together, arguing, fighting, discussing, you know, talking about the topics. If there is something to say, it is having that face to face.”
Many stations are rotating employees. Some employees go to the office while others stay at home.
News photographer Shahid Aziz must still go to the station, but he’s being careful about everything he touches.
“There is one change that I adopted when I am editing,” Aziz says. “I got gloves from the cleaning lady. Those are latex gloves. So I wear them and use the keyboard wearing those gloves while am editing.”
Many reporters, editors, and producers are working from home. They still have the desire to keep the community informed but with required precautions to stay safe, too.
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