As the Philippines is in lockdown and people are at home, social news network Rappler is reaching millions of people through social media stories informing about the virus and challenging the narrative coming from the government.

Rappler, is a social news network in the Philippines, strong in exploiting the power and reach of video, particularly on social.

Rappler is strong in exploiting the power and reach of video, particularly on social, and while it continued to use it for breaking, daily news wrapups, and live coverage – particularly as the community lockdowns went into effect two weeks ago – the Rappler Talk series have been especially successful.

AUDIENCE GROWTH

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views on Covid-19 Facebook live session

During the coronavirus crisis, Rappler have used it’s social media platforms for live online events, and the live economics discussion on Facebook registered no less than 2.5 million views.

crisis highlights need for information

A lack of information and an army of trolls

Covid-19 information to the public has been hampered by the government’s lack of information strategy in the Philippines resulting in confusing, uncoordinated messages from various government officials. The main issue has therefore not been suppression or deceit, but rather a more defensive stance from the part of the government in its communication.

Instead, a palpable mobilization of troll armies has been visible in the online information sphere – perceived by the public as government-sponsored, -sanctioned, or at the very least – enabled with the primary objective of defending and rationalising potential failings of government action related to the virus and less so, instigating attacks on legitimate media.

The Rappler Talk series

The Rappler Talk series have been devoted to Covid-19 related content in recent weeks, taking in resource persons from government, the scientific community, and medical frontliners and adding real value to the conversations and discussions that audiences are looking for.

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1. April 2020

Covid-19

A TURNING POINT FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA?

Across the world, Covid-19 is re-awakening people to the vital role that independent media plays in their societies. 

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, many independent media outlets are seeing their audiences grow as people realise they need quality information to navigate the crisis.

See how other IMS partners are responding to Covid-19

INNOVATIVE MEDIA RESPONSES TO COVID-19

In countries plagued by disinformation, our partner organisations are exploring new ways to inform and connect with their audiences. They’re preventing panic, slowing the spread of the disease, amplifying the voices of those affected, and helping mitigate the social and economic costs for the people and societies in which they work.