3 ways to fix a broken news industry | Lara Setrakian

TL;DR

This content explores the need for specialized news, responsible journalism, and embracing complexity to fix the broken news industry.

Transcript

Five years ago, I had my dream job. I was a foreign correspondent in the Middle East reporting for ABC News. But there was a crack in the wall, a problem with our industry, that I felt we needed to fix. You see, I got to the Middle East right around the end of 2007, which was just around the midpoint of the Iraq War. But by the time I got there, it... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 The news industry has a problem with missing crucial stories and failing to understand complex issues, leading to practical implications and potential harm to society.
• 🔎 Local journalists play a crucial role in bringing important stories to light and should be treated as partners and collaborators.
• 🚫 Journalists should adhere to a Hippocratic oath for the news industry, prioritizing responsible reporting and avoiding sensationalism that can harm society.
• 💡 Embracing complexity is essential in understanding the world and providing accurate information to the public.
• 📣 Fixing the broken news industry requires new formats and reimagining what journalism can achieve.
• 🔥 The lack of coverage on Iraq and Syria in the past contributed to the rise of ISIS and global instability.
• 💔 Trust in the media is at an all-time low, indicating the urgency to address the problems within the news industry.
• 🌟 Entrepreneurs and startups are working to fix the news and offer innovative solutions to the industry's challenges.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the speaker feel the need to fix the problem in the news industry?

The speaker felt the need to fix the problem in the news industry because there was a lack of coverage on important issues such as the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan. The news was focused on stories about themselves and failed to report on the people and events in these war-torn regions.

Q: What type of stories was the news industry missing?

The news industry was missing stories about the people who lived in conflict zones, the impact of climate change, and other important issues that could potentially have significant consequences for humanity. These "species-level issues" needed to be understood and reported on to effectively solve the problems at hand.

Q: What did the speaker do to address the problem?

The speaker left their dream job as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East and started a website called "Syria Deeply." This website provided deep-domain knowledge and high-quality information about the conflict in Syria, making it easier for policymakers and professionals to understand the complex issue.

Q: What are some ideas for fixing the news industry?

The speaker shares three ideas for fixing the news industry. The first idea is to work with more local journalists and treat them as partners to bring diverse and important stories to light. The second idea is to have a Hippocratic oath for the news industry, prioritizing responsible journalism that does not harm society. The third idea is to embrace complexity and provide accurate, nuanced reporting of the complexities of the world.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker felt the news industry was failing to cover important stories, such as the Iraq War and the war in Syria, leading to negative consequences for society.

• The speaker emphasizes the need for news that is built on deep-domain knowledge and specialization, including working with local journalists.

• The speaker calls for journalists to take responsibility and avoid harmful sensationalism, while also embracing complexity to accurately represent the real threats in the world.