Being based at a journalism school, I’m constantly reminded of why people are drawn to journalism: to have a platform from which to make the world a better place, especially when we crave ways to reconnect with our own sense of humanity.
Throughout the pandemic, George Floyd, and the U.S. presidential election, there have been countless opportunities for us to help the world understand why journalism is a vital public service. But in 2021, the newsrooms that thrive will be those that leverage the moment to make the case for journalism that helps save lives and sticks up for democracy.
Here are a few questions newsrooms should be able to answer in a substantive way to ensure their own relevance and sustainability for 2021:
I see a lot of lone journalists doing this work, but I believe that if a news organization knew how to institutionally answer these questions, we could broaden how we think about sustainability — not only through memberships and subscriptions, but also through new philanthropic avenues that seek to strengthen communities and can see how journalism is a part of that formula.
I see all the pain we’ve collectively endured in 2020 as an opportunity for 2021 — but not unless we get real when it comes to re-evaluating our values and priorities, and how they translate to actual policies and newsroom-wide decision-making.
Jennifer Choi is managing director of the News Integrity Initiative and equity initiatives director at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.