From the editor: Candid reflection from an ‘enemy of the people’
As long as I’ve been in the business, we’ve been talking about change.
"Change or Die!" was the theme of a professional retreat I attended nearly 25 years ago. The web was in its infancy, but the disruption had already started. One earnest presenter talked about how one day we would stop using newsprint and instead give subscribers a personal electronic newspaper with "e-ink" that would automatically refresh each morning with the news of the day − or yesterday, to be precise. If only things were that simple.
The reality, of course, is that internet-connected devices of all kinds allow us to deliver news and information in real time. The Enquirer still prints and delivers news on good, old-fashioned paper six days a week, but reaches most of its audience − between 3.5 and 4 million unique visitors each month − digitally.
I thought about that retreat this week when preparing for my appearance on a "Future of Journalism" panel discussion hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists at its regional conference. The moderator, area SPJ board member and retired WCPO-TV reporter Tom McKee, sent me some questions ahead of time. I thought it might be fun to answer a few of them here.
How do you compete for readers, viewers and listeners with social media being such a huge influencer?
I could write a dissertation on this topic, but I’ll get straight to the point: things are a hot mess right now.
Conventional wisdom dictates we need to be where the audience is, and right now, that’s on social media. We currently have a presence on all the major platforms, even TikTok. But there are two big problems. First, it’s a crowded space and the algorithms work against us. Second, and more problematic from a business standpoint, Big Tech doesn’t pay us a penny when we provide content for their platforms.
Over the past several years, lawmakers on the state and national level have introduced bills that would allow news organizations to band together and negotiate with Facebook, Google and other platform providers to get a share of the revenue they receive from news consumers. Doing so won’t necessarily save journalism, but it would help media companies recover some of the advertising revenue they lost during the shift to digital.
How do you maintain ethical journalism standards in the current environment?
This one is easy. How do you not maintain ethical journalism standards? The SPJ crafted a journalism code of ethics that has become the standard for our industry. One important way to maintain these ethical standards is to share them with the public so our readers, listeners and viewers can hold us accountable.
There have been characterizations that the news media is the enemy of the people. How do you counter that?
Let’s not beat around the bush here. Calling the news media "the enemy of the people" was part of Donald Trump’s rhetoric shortly after taking office in 2017, and he continues to beat that drum today. But blaming the former president for a lack of trust in the media, particularly among conservatives, ignores the fact that national media outlets have contributed − and dare I say, feed off of − the polarizing political climate we find ourselves in. Restoring trust will take time and a commitment to transparency, balanced news reports and erasing all agendas − actual or perceived − other than seeking the truth.
What are the biggest challenges you face in the changing landscape of journalism?
I’d put news literacy, or the lack thereof, high on that list. When the public is susceptible to misinformation and actively participates in disseminating it through social media, it not only threatens journalism but puts our democracy at risk.
Read more: Think before you post – our democracy depends on it
What can we do? Think before you share. Make an effort to seek news and information from a variety of sources directly, as opposed to letting it find you on your social media feed. Like most of society’s challenges, we can spark positive change by elevating the discourse in our own spheres of influence.
How would you answer these questions? As always, I enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Love also serves as regional editor for the USA TODAY Network Ohio. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He can’t respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Editor Beryl Love column future of journalism
