By: Brent Lindeque
Newsrooms worldwide are battling. Publications are closing down. Online platforms are becoming “noisy” with irrelevant adverts or almost entirely inaccessible because of paywalls.
Readership is dropping.
But why?
Well, there are many reasons, but the two that stood out at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum (DW Media Forum) were a growing despondency to the barrage of negative news that feels almost relentless and a breakdown of trust between readers and brands.
Over 1,500 participants and over 140 speakers from more than 120 countries around the world recently gathered in Bonn, Germany, to attend the conference. This event, which serves as a crucial platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, covered a wide range of topics, including journalism, digital innovation, media development, freedom of expression, and the impact of technology on the media landscape. The diverse backgrounds and regions of the participants added to the richness of the discussions.
DW invited me to be interviewed (about Good Things Guy) and to also participate in a panel discussion about the future of journalism. And I had no idea why. I didn’t study journalism. Nine years ago, I started something that has become South Africa’s top good news platform, but I only know what I know. And now I was heading to one of the world’s biggest and most impressive media forums, filled with the industry’s brightest minds, to participate in the closing panel discussion.
I was on a cooking show once. A pretty big one here in South Africa. It was called “My Kitchen Rules”, and myself and my fiancé were in season one. It was and will still remain one of the biggest adventures of my life. During this experience, Chef David Higgs (one of the judges who has become a good friend) mentioned that people tend to forget the main meal and remember the “appetisers” and “desserts”- it’s the start and the end that stays with us.
Why is this relevant? Because I was asked to be part of the last panel discussion at the forum. The end of this conference. The part that will be remembered. Enter imposter syndrome.
I spent months thinking about the “future of journalism” and labouring over my beliefs, trying to find the answer. Trying to prepare for this critical panel discussion.
It has to do with AI, right? AI is a hot topic in every industry, including journalism. AI (in journalism) offers the potential to enhance newsrooms by automating tasks like fact-checking, data analysis, and initial report drafting. This could free journalists to focus on investigative work and creative storytelling. However, concerns exist about AI replacing human jobs and also the accuracy and objectivity of AI-generated content. AI relies on the data it is trained on, so there is a risk of perpetuating biases. This is hugely problematic.
Or was it the conversation on social media? Disdain for newsrooms and journalists has grown in the last few years due to perceived bias, misinformation, and sensationalism. This distrust is worsened by social media, which prioritises and spreads these ideas, eroding trust in traditional news sources. Media outlets’ financial struggles add to the issue, with declining revenues leading to clickbait headlines and paywalls, further alienating readers. It’s a lot.
No, it must be the fact that publications are closing down. The “pool” of news outlets is getting smaller – that must impact the future of journalism?
The conference only started on Monday, but the speakers had the opportunity to all meet at an event on Sunday evening. It was here that I chatted to the likes of Peter Limbourg, Director General at DW, Katja Dörner, the Mayor of Bonn, Bay Fang, from Radio Free Asia, Seth Onyango from Bird Story Agency, Natalí Schejtman from UTDT and so many more incredible journalists, media professionals and human beings who were at the forefront of their fields.
At one point in the evening, Moky Makura, from Africa No Filter, and I locked eyes, or more specifically, humorously argued over who took a better photo. Africa No Filter (ANF) is a non-profit organisation that works to challenge and change harmful narratives about Africa by amplifying authentic and diverse stories from the continent. The incredible initiative aims to shift perceptions and create a more balanced and nuanced understanding of Africa, countering stereotypes and misconceptions that often prevail in media and popular culture. Moky and I hit it off immediately. I was in awe of her organisation. We chatted for hours about our work, our passions, our reasons -and our why.
The following day, I woke to a message asking me to be on ANF’s panel “Exploring new news (Why news doesn’t have to be bad)”. This was my playground. This is something I know. This is something I live for. I eagerly accepted. And it was incredible!
Fatou Ellika Muloshi from DW facilitated a robust discussion between Ellen Heinrichs from the Bonn Institute, Moky, Seth, and me. But it was also incredibly beautiful. The delegate’s eyes lit up as we discussed how we can tell ‘better stories’ and ‘stories told better’ with nuance and context, drawing in audiences and leaving them feeling better about their world. This is called constructive journalism, another heavy theme of the entire conference.
Constructive journalism focuses on solutions and positive aspects of stories rather than just reporting problems. It aims to provide a more balanced view by highlighting progress, innovations, and ways to address issues, fostering a sense of hope and engagement among readers. Good Things Guy has used this approach for years by showcasing uplifting stories, positive news, and solutions to challenges. Our content often highlights acts of kindness, community initiatives, and personal achievements, aiming to inspire and motivate readers. By focusing on the good happening around us, our publication has helped counterbalance the often negative news cycle, promoting a more optimistic and proactive mindset.
“Good Things Guy is not a media platform; it’s a purpose-driven business that is successful.” These are words that were shared with me by Moky and many other delegates, and they will stay with me forever.
I get to give two or three Keynotes a week around South Africa (and around the globe), talking about good news, constructive journalism, how the narrative in our mainstream media directly impacts a nation’s sentiment, and our responsibility as journalists to give our readers a balanced view of the world.
In that closing panel discussion, we spoke extensively about the future of journalism. We discussed the obstacles, how to gain readers’ trust, debated using AI to enhance what we do, delved into new media development, and everything in between.
The final question I was asked was what I believed “would carry journalism and media platforms forward.” After three days at an incredible conference, my answer was simple and weighted with concrete confidence in my craft.
Passion.
An all-encompassing passion will drive journalism and media houses forward. Yes, we will face difficulties, technology will advance, and sometimes we’ll get it completely wrong. But the passion for what we get to do will keep driving us forward. Passion for telling stories that matter. Stories that are our present but will shape our future and ultimately form part of our history. Without a passion for what we do, nothing else matters. Looking back at the DW Media Forum, the incredible panel discussions, the networking and insightful conversations, I am reminded how thankful I am to get to do the work I do, and I am so incredibly passionate to keep doing it; to keep bringing South Africa and the world stories that uplift, positive news that inspires, and solutions to challenges.
With passion (and only good things).