Why TV journalists are exempt from wearing masks on camera

9News Melbourne reporter Reid Butler shares why broadcast journalists are exempt from wearing masks on camera during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Oh the f---ing irony of it all. A reporter lecturing us about wearing a mask or copping a $200 fine all while he is unmasked!"

That's a recent tweet I received from a 9News viewer, one of many similar messages I've seen since masks became mandatory in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire late last month.

"Kane" from Twitter definitely has a point. I'm standing there, bare-faced, while reporting on the legal requirement to cover your face in public.

The truth is, my colleagues and I wear a mask 99 per cent of the time while out gathering for our news bulletins. We wear them in the office at our desks too. That means close to 12 hours of mask-time on a 6am to 6pm shift. Not a lot of fun with coffee breath (and journos do love a long black), but 100 per cent necessary if we want to help stem the surge of COVID-19 cases in Victoria.

When we're directly speaking to viewers and we're socially distanced from others, it's a different story.

During live crosses and piece to cameras out in the field, it's vital people at home can see our mouths move. For the hearing impaired, this is even more important, especially when the information we're delivering is as crucial as it is right now.

That's why the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) ruled reporters are exempt from wearing a mask while speaking directly to the camera.

According to the DHHS website: "Persons whose professions require clear enunciations or visibility of the mouth (are exempt). This includes teaching or live broadcasting".

There are times you will see us wearing a mask while speaking to the camera. This is because there are some cases where it's impossible to physically distance from others while doing our job.

For example, I filmed a piece recently at the Queen Victoria Market. I was indoors and there were people around me. Under our policy at 9News, that means I needed to wear a mask even when I'm talking to camera.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Melbourne's worker permit scheme

But if a reporter is standing alone outside police headquarters or state parliament for instance, a mask isn't required.

The premier wears a mask as he approaches the podium for his daily press conferences but then removes it when it's time to speak. Right now, communication is key to getting health and safety messages out to the public.

That goes for TV news too.