According to NeimanLab's Predictions for Journalism in 2020, people today are demanding transparency from journalists like never before. Individuals want the facts in every aspect of their media consumption. So, are journalists fulfilling this desire for transparency? Will there be a shift away from obscurity? Or, will things never really change?
Written in an article by Kourtney Bitterly, Meg Fee and Thomas Mitchell of the New York Times, "people want more than just the story: they want to know why it’s being told, who is telling it and how it came together." The article also highlights the similarities between the demand for transparency in the food market to that in the world of news. As the public has become more educated on how ingredients are sourced, there has been a call for fairly sourced food products to become the norm. Similarly, pressure for honest reporting has increased in recent times.
Despite demands for transparency, the media seems to have exhibited little change. According to a poll by Politico, "77% of participants believe that major traditional television and newspaper media outlets report “fake news.” This level of distrust has actually increased in recent years, which explains the rise in demand for honesty.
It is difficult to predict what will happen in the future, but I do think it is fair to say that the media will eventually follow the trend towards transparency. As for now, be the change you hope to see! Good journalism can start with you!
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