The former head of the World Editors Forum, now the head of the journalism department at the City University in London, delivered a speech this week identifying eras done and challenges ahead.
George Brock points to three developments central to recent media change: the quantity of information available to a wider audience, the swift process by which that information is reshaped, and the decentralization of news into the hands of many. He asks: Is news over?
He sees a clash emerging between news organizations and the new providers for public trust, and he believes journalists have four traits they need to secure to defend their craft: the discipline of verification, the sense-making of contextualization of content, the professional eyewitnessing of events, and the robust investigation of ideas.
While it will take time for a new business model to emerge to sustain high-quality work, Brock believes the organization with the greatest propensity to experiment will be the winner. He thinks philanthropy will play a role in sustaining quality. But he also believes journalists have to strengthen their position with firmer standards.
George Brock points to three developments central to recent media change: the quantity of information available to a wider audience, the swift process by which that information is reshaped, and the decentralization of news into the hands of many. He asks: Is news over?
He sees a clash emerging between news organizations and the new providers for public trust, and he believes journalists have four traits they need to secure to defend their craft: the discipline of verification, the sense-making of contextualization of content, the professional eyewitnessing of events, and the robust investigation of ideas.
While it will take time for a new business model to emerge to sustain high-quality work, Brock believes the organization with the greatest propensity to experiment will be the winner. He thinks philanthropy will play a role in sustaining quality. But he also believes journalists have to strengthen their position with firmer standards.
