Journalism needs to learn how to defend itself

[Nieman Lab: The Daily Digest] Monday, December 18, 2023 This week, we’re concluding our [Predictions for Journalism 2024]( series. You can read all the predictions [here](. [Journalism needs to learn how to defend itself]( “We cannot fight the battle for truth and for our own reputations through disappointed silence, any more than an army can engage its enemy with careful, detailed descriptions of weapons.” By Philip Bump. [The year we see the future of local news won’t look like its past]( “We find and fund these outlets by literally meeting audiences where they are — going into towns and neighborhoods and asking, ‘Where do you get your news and information, and who do you trust?'” By Tracie Powell. [The wrong people will be laid off…again]( “When layoffs come, those who sold us the false business ideas of ‘pivot to video’ or ‘get me their emails’ or ‘put on live events’ or ‘we need new podcasts’ or ‘let’s get IP to sell to Netflix’ aren’t the ones paying the layoff price.” By Robert Hernandez. [In the EU, media legislation helps safeguard press freedom]( “The EU’s governance approach to the problem of media independence holds some promises that we should be open to explore.” By Elena Herrero-Beaumont. [Local news rediscovers local history]( “New local newsrooms can be part of that revisiting. As they create their own histories in relationship to the communities they serve, they are well-suited to change the way history has been told.” By Logan Jaffe. [AI kills the journalism degree — and elevates the apprenticeship]( “If AI is indeed a white-collar job eater, then an ancient blue-collar convention might be in order.” By Jennifer Coogan. [Build your own platform]( “It may not catch on. But it feels good to engage in new ways to cultivate our audience instead of just standing still.” By Rick Berke. [Readers seek depth beyond explainers and infographics]( “People want to feel wiser about the nuanced, generational crises that we are facing, and the solutions that might turn the various tides.” By Courtney Martin. [The (semi-) automated explainer gets good]( “With the help of AI, explanatory journalists and the newsrooms they work in will compete on judgment, perspective, process, and personalization.” By Walter Frick. [AI kills the one-size-fits-all model]( “Our approach to AI should shift from just considering it for content generation to innovating and creating new, engaging news experiences.” By Nikita Roy. [The year journalism in Africa embraces its Africanness]( “It is frustrating that in 2023, we’re still trying to figure out what African journalism is.” By j. Siguru Wahutu. [The news industry finally reckons with the political economy of journalism]( “We can fight to ensure that our media embody the principles of participatory democracy and are dedicated to serving social needs, not private profits.” By Victor Pickard. [Journalism’s next disruptor: Love]( “We have the control to change what we see, and what we choose to report on. This isn’t a decision made by platforms or third parties.” By Jennifer Brandel. [Dedicated moonlighters]( “What’s changed is there’s now a lot less secrecy around journalist-moonlighters. There’s no longer any illusion that, if you were actually any good, someone would have hired you. (Who is there to hire you?)” By Joanne McNeil. [A humble Clippy for AI]( “What was annoying then is exactly what we need now.” By Marie Gilot. What We’re Reading Semafor / Max Tani [A fight over Trump and “balance” at The Messenger →]( “I can’t think of another way to get this across but in a group slack. Jimmy does not want any Trump trial coverage on the HP, period. I’m repeatedly getting calls on it. Please make sure we don’t slip one in.” The Washington Post / Ben Strauss [As local sports coverage suffers, startups try (again) to fill the void →]( “Sports were not part of the [Baltimore] Banner’s launch, but the newsroom hustled to ramp up its coverage ahead of last baseball season. The Orioles are now the Banner’s third-best subscription driver, after food and breaking news.” The Verge / Jay Peters [Adam Mosseri spells out Threads’ plans for the fediverse →]( “Eventually, it should also be possible to enable creators to leave Threads and take their followers with them to another app/server. I believe that it’s important that creators own their relationship with their audience.” Marketplace / Savannah Maher [How a small-town New Mexico newspaper rewrote its unhappy ending →]( “In October 2022, Seibel bought the Deming Headlight for ‘not very much money’ (he said that $60,000 in loans, mostly from friends and family, more than covered the purchase) from Gannett, the country’s largest newspaper chain.” The Washington Post / Pranshu Verma [The rise of AI fake news is creating a “misinformation superspreader” →]( “Since May, websites hosting AI-created false articles have increased by more than 1,000 percent, ballooning from 49 sites to more than 600, according to NewsGuard.” Wall Street Journal / Alexandra Bruell [New York Times staffers form journalistic “independence caucus” amid concerns over NewsGuild’s actions →]( “The tensions over the NewsGuild’s actions show how the strong impulse of some workers to take a stand on major political or social debates is running up against long-held values at major journalistic institutions.” [Nieman Lab]( / [Fuego]( [Twitter]( / [Facebook]( [View email in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( You are receiving this daily newsletter because you signed up for for it at www.niemanlab.org. 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