Similar to mask mandates, COVID-19 passports — a means to prove one’s vaccination status — are becoming a political lightning rod in the United States. Where states like New York have viewed such passports as a viable tool for promoting safe in-person interactions, others, like Florida and Texas, have viewed them as an affront to privacy and individual liberties. For multi-state employers considering a passport solution, these developments command attention. more

In an unprecedented partnership, nine newsrooms across Lee Enterprises and the USA TODAY Network in Iowa have joined forces to publish a collaborative project called “Iowa Mourns,” which identifies and tells the stories of Iowans who died from COVID-19. more

There’s a lot of reason for hope in the news media industry, and there’s one surprising obstacle that a “pop-up” newsroom called the Missouri Information Corps hopes Facebook fixes. more

Kid Scoop has published two resources to help parents and schools teach children about COVID-19 and ways to stay as safe as possible: coloring and activity pages, plus an eight-page activity workbook. more

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major national news story, recent studies by the Pew Research Center shows that it also is an important local news story, with many Americans depending on their local media outlets for information about the outbreak. more

Five McClatchy newspapers in South Carolina — The State (Columbia), The Island Packet, The Beaufort Gazette, The Sun News (Myrtle Beach) and The Herald (Rock Hill) — have launched "We Rebuild" sections on their websites to bring together perspectives and solutions for a path to restore their communities in a post-pandemic world. more

Adams Publishing Group newspapers of Southern Minnesota are committing $500,000 in matching advertising grants to help local businesses in the community recover from the COVID-19 crisis and thrive.  These funds can be used toward the development of marketing solutions or advertising messages in these Minnesota publications and/or websites over the next four months. more

As the paper's $9.9 million federal stimulus loan expires, some staff at The Seattle (Washington) Times will see pay cuts up to 20% and hours reduced, the paper announced in an opinion column yesterday. Seattle Times President Alan Fisco told the staff last week that the paper will avoid layoffs as long as it can. more

Look closely and you’ll find a mask for medical workers and caregivers, a steering wheel for delivery workers, a shopping cart for grocery workers, an apple for teachers, a fork for food service workers and a microscope for medical researchers. more

Yesterday, McClatchy began offering a weekly livestream series, "COVID-19-Bending the Curve."  Every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT, the series will bring together top medical professionals, industry experts, patient advocates and policymakers who will update audiences throughout the country on the latest advancements to combat the virus.  more

In a first-person account in yesterday's newspaper, Tricia Dunne, publisher of the Fort Payne (Alabama) Times-Journal, wrote about her family's experience with COVID-19, emphasizing the need for everyone to learn to "live smart and to protect ourselves, our family and everyone around us." Both she and her husband tested positive, but COVID-19 affected them both very differently. more

Before you take employees back. First, consider the federal, state and local guidance, laws and orders. These may be changing rapidly. Look at OSHA regs, which may vary by region, and consider the sick leave, family and medical leave, and other workplace laws. Be mindful of the Family First Coronavirus Response Act, which — like most other coronavirus-related laws — sunset on Dec. 31. more

The Detroit Free Press is partnering with the Michigan History Center, which runs the Archives of Michigan and the Michigan History Museum System, to collect personal stories from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Michigan History Center is gathering accounts and photos from the pandemic, posting them in real-time online and sharing them with the Free Press for use. The Free Press will assemble recordings to be shared in an audio series called We Lived It, and sent to the history center for archival use. more

As more and more states are modifying or even lifting shelter in place restrictions, employers are contemplating when and how to bring people back to work. Given the volume, breadth and complexity of these issues, now is the time for employers to lay the groundwork for implementing specific return-to-work plans. more

May 21 webinar: As more and more states are modifying or even lifting shelter in place restrictions, employers are contemplating when and how to bring people back to work. Given the volume, breadth and complexity of these issues, now is the time for employers to lay the groundwork for implementing specific return-to-work plans. Learn more and register more

In a periodic series called Stepping Up, highlighting moments of compassion, duty and community in uncertain times, The Seattle (Washington) Times highlighted the actions of Gina Singer, who with her daughter, have been making free masks for people along their newspaper delivery route who need a mask. more

Americans support directing federal money to local news organizations as part of coronavirus relief efforts, according to the results of an April 14-20 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey focused on the coronavirus situation, part of Knight Foundation’s Trust, Media and Democracy initiative. Sixty-five percent are in favor of including money to help local news organizations in coronavirus relief aid, while 34% are opposed. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats, 60% of independents and 43% of Republicans favor federal assistance to local news organizations. more

In remarks delivered yesterday during a Kindred livestream panel, McClatchy CEO Craig Forman talked about the advantages of advertisers using local news brands to promote their products and messages.  "News isn't monolithic," he said. "We have to dispel the notion that news is this vast bucket and it's all the same … We have a powerful platform that allows national advertisers to connect with local audiences." more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP has published a "Return to Business and Post-Pandemic Planning Checklist" to help companies prepare for the  business impacts arising from COVID-19 and as business begins to reopen. Read more and download the checklist more

Special thanks to Seyfarth Shaw for providing general information for members of America's Newspapers about COVID-19, including how it is transmitted and how you can prevent infection. more