Democracy is built on people making informed decisions based on accurate and reliable information, but how can people access accurate and reliable news content in an information environment fuelled by algorithms, AI, data, personal bias and different regulatory regimes?
These were some of the points discussed at the MLI event kindly hosted by the Irish Times and facilitated by NewsBrands Ireland on the 26 March.
During this in-person event, Irish Times Opinion Editor, Jennifer O’Connell was joined by Associate Professor Emeritus Steven Reiner from the US. A former Senior Editor and Executive Producer in CBS News, NBC and ABC News, Steven also teaches courses in News Literacy, Reporting in New York City and Journalism 24/7.
During a wide-ranging conversation they explored the challenges faced by journalists when trying to hold power to account in a digital media environment against a background of increasing mis and disinformation.
Challenges such as the balancing act that is required to summarise lengthy quotes for efficiency, without falling foul of ‘sanewashing’ – the act of minimising or normalising radical and extreme views; or the issue of trying to fact-check in real time to combat disinformation, while competing with alternative ‘news’ outlets that are not required to fact-check information.
The stamina required by journalists on the front-line of the attention economy battle was discussed, as was the impact on journalism of changing consumption patterns, such as the shift from active to passive reading, and the preference for confirmation, not challenge, to existing world views.
While not a solution in its own right, a vigorous, multi-faceted approach to news and media literacy was acknowledged as a key part of empowering citizens to be able to make informed media choices and fostering trust in journalism as one of the fundamental pillars of democracy.
In a time when it feels like established journalism is under threat, it was reassuring to note that within the audience of around 30 people, there were a number of students of journalism who asked insightful and probing questions, suggesting hope for the future.
This is the first of these in-person, deep-dive, events undertaken by MLI for a number of years and it was only possible thanks to the generous and ongoing support of NewsBrands Ireland, whose staunch support for the work of MLI is greatly appreciated.
