Summary
In this episode, Brittlestar, Steve Boots, Lisa B and this week’s guest, journalist Rachel Gilmore discuss the state of journalism and the reasons behind its decline. They explore the impact of capitalism and extractive practices on journalism, as well as the shift towards profit-driven models. The role of advertising in funding journalism is examined, along with the challenges and potential solutions for sustainable funding. Despite the challenges, there is optimism for the future of journalism and the importance of preserving it as a public good. The conversation explores the value of good journalism and the challenges faced by news organizations in the current media landscape. It discusses the gap in the market for reliable news and the difficulty of finding trustworthy sources. The need for news organizations to adapt and meet audiences where they are is emphasized. The conversation also delves into the impact of confirmation bias, media literacy, and critical thinking on the consumption of news. The decline of journalism and the role of social media and algorithms are examined. The importance of building trust through personal connections and the need for diversity in newsrooms are highlighted. In this episode, the hosts and guest discuss the changing landscape of journalism and the potential benefits of the crashing and burning of mainstream media. They explore the failings of mainstream media in covering important issues and the need for a more diverse range of perspectives. The conversation also delves into the uncomfortable transition in media and the importance of nurturing the survival of democracy. The value of traditional media institutions and the pros and cons of their structures are examined. The hosts and guest offer suggestions for supporting journalism and taking action to help the industry.
Takeaways
The decline of journalism is influenced by capitalism and extractive practices.
Advertising plays a significant role in funding journalism, but it also poses challenges and potential conflicts of interest.
Alternative funding models, such as public funding or crowdfunding, could help insulate journalism from the influence of advertisers.
Preserving journalism as a public good is crucial for holding powerful individuals and institutions accountable. The value of good journalism lies in providing reliable and trustworthy information to the public.
There is a gap in the market for reliable news, as many news organizations prioritize profit over quality journalism.
Consumers should be critical of the news they consume and seek out diverse perspectives.
News organizations need to adapt and meet audiences where they are in order to provide information in a way that is accessible and engaging.
Media literacy and critical thinking are essential in navigating the current media landscape and avoiding confirmation bias.
The decline of journalism is influenced by factors such as social media, algorithms, and the prioritization of profit over quality reporting.
Building trust through personal connections and fostering diversity in newsrooms are crucial for the future of journalism. The crashing and burning of mainstream media can lead to a more diverse range of reporting perspectives.
Mainstream media institutions have failings in covering important issues and often prioritize profit over informing the public.
The transition in media is uncomfortable but requires active participation and vigilance to ensure the survival of democracy.
Supporting journalism involves subscribing to and promoting outlets that do good work, as well as putting public pressure on newsroom executives.
The value of traditional media institutions lies in their layers of accountability and access to resources, but there are also drawbacks to their structures.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:18 The Decline of Journalism
06:05 The Shift to Profit-driven Journalism
08:32 The Role of Advertising in Journalism
13:08 Alternative Funding Models
18:53 The Value of Good Journalism
20:14 The Gap in the Market
21:30 The Difficulty of Finding Reliable News
22:25 Adapting News Delivery
23:34 The Old School vs. New School Journalism
24:50 Confirmation Bias and Media Literacy
26:41 Blaming Trudeau and Late Stage Capitalism
27:37 Challenging Assumptions and Critical Thinking
28:43 Building Trust through Personal Connections
30:30 The Importance of Journalism and Journalists
31:32 The Role of Critical Thinking
32:31 The Decline of Journalism
37:29 The Impact of Social Media and Algorithms
38:08 The Need for Proportional Reporting
41:09 Trust in Personalities vs. News Outlets
42:21 The Business Side of Journalism
44:24 Journalists as Frontline Workers
46:26 Diversity and Representation in Newsrooms
46:55 Challenging Power Structures in Media
47:07 The Changing Landscape of Journalism
48:06 The Upside of the Crashing and Burning of Mainstream Media
49:02 The Failings of Mainstream Media
50:21 The Uncomfortable Transition in Media
51:22 Nurturing the Survival of Democracy
53:30 The Importance of Intentional Journalism
54:51 The Value of Traditional Media Institutions
55:00 Pros and Cons of Traditional Media Structures
57:29 Supporting Journalism and News Outlets
59:00 Taking Action to Help Journalism
01:02:19 The Podcast is Broken Outro
DOES JOURNALISM SUCK NOW?