What we are reading in our newsroom
An occasional column on the stories on media innovation that are intriguing, engaging or alarming us
FAIR | What journalism needs is not more diversity, but less white supremacy
Janine Jackson writes that an important conversation needs to be had regarding decreasing the high levels of white supremacy in the news outlets. She suggests that a good start, “would be for media to stop saying “missteps” when they mean sustained, systemic failures; and to get it through their heads that the demand is not for more “diversity,” but for less white supremacy. Journalists ought to speak plainly, including when they’re talking to themselves.”
Columbia Journalism Review | Are digital giants like Facebook destructive by design?
Former Facebook staffer and a former policy advisor to the Obama White House, Dipayan Ghosh, has published a new book called Terms of Disservice: How Silicon Valley is Destructive by Design. In this book, Ghosh “argues that these companies are monopolists, and that they engage in a wide variety of disturbing conduct — much of it involving the data of their users — not accidentally but deliberately.”
Engadget | The future of journalism is already here
As more reporting is required in covering news ranging from covid-19 to protests taking place at the same time, “traditional newsrooms are finding their resources to cover these events spread thin. But into that coverage void has stepped a new generation of independent, internet-based journalists bringing the voices of the people in the streets to the eyes and ears …all without paywalls.”
The Africa Report | ‘In Egypt, independent journalism is under threat’
The coronavirus pandemic has given the government of Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi leeway to further expand state control. Arrests and searches of media outlets are increasing in Egypt. Lina Attalah, co-founder of Mada Masr, talks about the increasingly difficult daily life of this investigative website and of her profession.
SANEF | Covid19 impact on Journalism
The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) recently launched its “Covid19 impact on Journalism” report. This desktop research will be a starting point to assist the media industry in developing a way forward — leading to practical projects to assist journalists and the industry.
