What we’re reading this week
Take a look at some of the things we are currently reading in our newsroom that you should be aware of
Financial Times | The BBC, Fleet Street and the future of journalism
Reviewing two books on the future of journalism and the BBC, Alex Barker unpacks the ongoing pressures plaguing the journalism industry in the UK and worldwide — public mistrust, fake news, a sustainable financial model, and the digital age. As one of the biggest news organisations in the world, the BBC’s global influence is immense. But who will pay for it all going forward? How the BBC deals with these challenges will be closely watched by news organisations around the globe.
Press Gazette | Trust, truth and making news pay: Editors outline the biggest challenges for journalism in 2021
The Press Gazette gathered editors and executives from some of the world’s top media organisations to share their thoughts on the greatest challenges facing the industry. For Marty Baron, executive editor at the Washington Post, it is that facts are no longer accepted as fact. “What becomes of a democracy when large segments of the public inhabit an alternate reality — more bluntly stated, a world of myths and make-believe?” Similarly, Gina Chua, global managing editor at Reuters, writes “the erosion of public trust on the news industry will be a significant challenge to address in 2021.” For Financial Times editor Roula Khalaf the priority will be to sustain an effective remote newsroom and to “continue reporting the Covid story with agenda-setting insight, original reporting, and data analysis and to cover how leaders and businesses adjust to the new normal.” Several other editors echoed similar sentiments highlighting just how difficult the transition back to normality and regaining public trust will be.
NiemanLab | Loretta Chao: Open up the profession
Writing for NiemanLab’s Predictions for Journalism 2021, journalist Loretta Chao argues that we’ll see a reinvention of what it means to be a journalist and do journalism. She writes: “Making journalism more equitable will require a more inclusive definition of what it means to be a journalist. We’ll need to stop being precious about what we do and how we do it.” She points to the growing number of people who possess the passion and tenacity to be journalists and who are producing compelling works of journalism but do not possess a degree in the field. “If we want any hope of adequately serving all communities with local news, we’ll need to support and cultivate the assets they already have.” What then will this mean for journalism?
Journalism.co.uk | 12 must-have apps for mobile journalism
These days a charged up smartphone is an essential tool of any journalist’s trade. That’s why having the best apps loaded on your phone is a must-have. With countless apps to choose from, mobile journalism trainer Robb Montgomery whittled them down to these top 12 apps. Most of the apps except for 2 are free to download on the Apple and Google Play stores.
