Georgina Ferry interviews Richard Fletcher, Director of Research (Reuters Institute), 28 January 2022.
Dr Richard Fletcher
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Topics discussed include (00:00:29) RF's early studies in computer science, Masters in Science, Technology and Society, and PhD in Sociology, research in Journalism in London and Oxford; (00:03:40) the decline of traditional print and television news media and growth of smart phone internet use for news consumption; (00:07:23) Digital News Report data; (00:09:30) RF's first memory of COVID-19 in early 2020; (00:10:38) research on COVID-19 including two studies: six-country survey on news use particularly relating to coronavirus beginning in April 2020 and work on a ten wave survey focusing on the U.K.; (00:13:21) findings of the studies; (00:17:00) increase in sources of information on coronavirus; (00:18:36) the U.K. study, changes in attitudes and behaviours; (00:21:00) publication of survey results including fact sheets and reports; (00:21:30) inequalities in news and information use in terms of demographic groups; (00:25:00) eight-country study undertaken in 2021, including a focus on vaccines; (00:26:04) differences in data between 2020 and 2021, including evidence of declining trust; (00:29:09) collaborative working, particularly internationally; (00:30:57) the main audience using this research and the data resulting from these studies; (00:32:16) influence on Government policy; (00:33:22) impact of a proliferation of data and 'infodemic'; (00:35:10) the impact of the first lockdown on ability to work and social interactions; (00:38:35) positive outcomes of changes to ways of work, including hybrid and remote working; (00:41:10) changes to working hours; (00:43:45) safety measures and policies for the Institute, involvement in these discussions; (00:45:01) contribution of COVID-19 research on personal well-being; (00:46:04) RF's personal reaction to COVID-19 in terms of health as well as social pressures; (00:47:40) future questions and research interests, including trust, acceleration of the decline of print news publication, misinformation on social media; (00:50:08) changes to approach to work and working environment.
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The Collecting COVID oral history project captures the University of Oxford's research response during an unprecedented time, revealing the professional and personal stories of a diverse range of individual researchers and teams. Since November 2021, science writer and broadcaster Georgina Ferry has interviewed researchers and support staff from across Oxford’s academic divisions, capturing the story of the pandemic, as seen through the eyes of those at the forefront of research...