How El Tímpano is listening during COVID-19

“Where can I get tested for COVID-19?” 

“I don’t have a computer at home and I’m concerned about my son falling behind in school.”

“I’ve lost my job due to this pandemic. Where can I ask for help to pay my rent?”

These are just a few of the more than 100 messages El Tímpano has received from our audience since early March. Their questions, hopes, and concerns paint a picture of the devastating toll the public health and economic crisis is taking. 

For the past two months, El Tímpano has provided information to hundreds of Spanish-speaking immigrants about COVID-19, beginning with basic guidance on how to stop the spread of germs and the parameters of the county’s shelter-in-place order. Over the weeks, our reporting, distributed via text messages, has addressed the evolving needs of our audience, such as information on food distribution and the details of Oakland’s eviction moratorium. 

Distributing crisis information, however, is only one aspect of our reporting strategy. Just as important is providing a platform for community members to share their questions, hopes, and concerns. Many responses are simply words — and emojis — of gratitude for keeping them informed. Others are specific questions: Are the banks still open? Are the buses still running? Do I qualify for financial assistance? Producer Vanessa Nava has answered every single one. 

Follow El Tímpano on Instagram to read messages from our audience, and click here to learn more.