World News Day today will bring together more than 150 newsrooms from around the world. But its importance goes beyond the professional concerns of journalists. The occasion this year offers journalists, editors, audiences and other stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on what Covid-19 means for their relationship. Many newsrooms are reeling under the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but a renewed relationship of trust has been built up as well with audiences that want credible and up-to-date news. In serving that readership, the best newsrooms are seeking to live up to their timeless mandate as storytellers whose words and images make a difference for the better in the material and emotional lives of citizens.

Trust has to be earned. There is good news for media organisations in this regard. The 2020 State of the Media Report produced by Cision, a company which specialises in communications needs, collected more than 3,000 responses from 15 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Media professionals surveyed maintain that ensuring accuracy continues to be the most crucial requirement for the profession. Thus, for the second year in a row, more than half of journalists say that ensuring that content is fully accurate is more important than revenue, exclusivity or being the first to publish. Clearly, Covid-19 has increased the need for accurate content that is trusted, timely and true.