A new podcast titled “Revision: The Quest for the Future of News,” has launched from the Knight Center for the Future of News, aiming to explore how journalism can evolve to better serve the public. Hosted by Andy Pergam, the inaugural executive director of the Knight Center and a professor at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the podcast seeks to shift the focus of journalism from solely business and technology concerns to the human experience of news.
Rethinking Journalism
According to Pergam, the future of journalism is fundamentally a human issue rather than merely a business or technological challenge. He emphasizes the need for journalism to understand the role that information plays in people’s lives, including how they use it for decision-making and community engagement. By addressing these human-centered questions, the podcast aims to redefine what news can be and how it can resonate more deeply with audiences.
The podcast, which released its first episode this week, will feature a variety of guests from outside the traditional newsroom, including experts in music, technology, storytelling, and disinformation. Pergam believes that insights from these fields can provide valuable perspectives for transforming journalism and enhancing its relevance in today’s society.
Building Trust in News
As public trust in journalism remains fragile, Pergam sees the podcast as a chance to rethink the relationship between news organizations and their audiences. He suggests that trust needs to be rebuilt on a more authentic basis rather than through traditional institutional channels. The podcast encourages a more engaged approach to journalism, where audience interaction is prioritized over mere information dissemination.
Pergam notes that many news organizations operate under outdated distribution models, assuming that audiences intentionally seek out news. However, research indicates that a significant portion of younger adults encounter news incidentally. This finding necessitates a reevaluation of how news is presented and the context in which it is shared.
Questions for the Future
The podcast also delves into the implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on journalism. Pergam stresses the importance of asking not just what these technologies can do, but what values should guide their use in the news industry. He advocates for maintaining editorial judgment and community accountability as central tenets of journalism.
Through “Revision,” Pergam hopes to inspire bolder thinking about the future of news, moving beyond incremental changes to embrace radical rethinking and intentional experimentation. This approach aims to open up new possibilities for how journalism can adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Source: Arizona State University
