Four science journalists leading the way in coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic will discuss their experiences in an upcoming College of Arts & Sciences virtual event April 28.

“Covering COVID: How Journalists Tackled the Biggest Science Story of our Time,” will be moderated by Faye Flam, Bloomberg opinion columnist and host of the podcast "Follow the Science.”

Panelists will include:

• Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times reporter focused on science and global health
• Jason Beaubien, global health and development correspondent, NPR
• Jon Cohen, staff writer with Science

The free virtual webinar, presented as part of the College’s Distinguished Visiting Journalist Program, will begin at 7 p.m. and is powered by eCornell. Register here.

During the event, the journalists will talk about the challenges of writing about rapidly-evolving vaccine developments and variants; of breaking down complex topics like viral spread and of making the public aware of ever-changing health and safety precautions. They'll discuss how they reported on forecasts, dealt with misinformation and what they’ve learned about what the future might bring for all of us. 

The discussion will be followed by questions from the audience.

“The journalists on our panel have been in the vanguard of pandemic coverage, often breaking new ground and shedding new light with their reporting and insights at a time when the world has been gripped by uncertainty, fear and loss,” said Ray Jayawardhana, Harold Tanner Dean of Arts & Sciences. “We look forward to hearing their stories from the frontlines, discussing the challenges they’ve faced, and considering what lies ahead.”

The College’s Distinguished Visiting Journalist Program recognizes excellence in journalism and provides opportunities for select journalists and the university community to engage with each other. The program is funded through a significant endowment from Jan Rock Zubrow ’77 and Barry Zubrow, as well as additional philanthropic support from Jay Branegan ’72, Rose Gutfeld Edwards ’78 and the Dr. Guinevere Griest ’44 Fund for Public Engagement in A&S.

Marc Lacey, assistant managing editor at The New York Times, served as the inaugural visiting journalist in the spring and fall of 2020 and Molly O’Toole, immigration and security reporter for the Los Angeles Times, will be on campus this fall as the second visiting journalist.

Register for the event.

Read the story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.