Prioritize Journalists for COVID-19 Vaccine, Urge News Media Groups

America’s Public Television Stations, NAB and PBS joined 11 news media organizations Tuesday to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include front-line journalists in the COVID-19 vaccine's early deployment phases, right behind essential workers, healthcare workers and first responders. “Journalists have taken on an even more essential role, serving as the connective fabric for Americans who are isolated and physically separated from each other, and informing them of the constantly evolving risks in their individual communities,” the groups said in a letter to a CDC advisory committee. “Journalists cannot simply work from home, but must interact with government officials and the public to report on the stories that matter, regardless of the risks they must assume.” Members of the media “are necessarily exposed to the COVID-19 virus while doing their jobs and serving as ‘first informers’ in local communities across the country,” they said. CDC officials didn't respond to questions.