Council: Journalism must be fostered in new spaces

Posted by Leah McBride Mensching on December 23, 2009 at 1:49 PM

Journalism is vital to societies, and a "new technical, political and financial ecosystem" must be built to support it, the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Journalism announced last week. Even as business models falter, journalism must not, according to the council, one of the Global Agenda Councils, part of the World Economic Forum, which met in Dubai in late November.

The council believes journalism and its relationship with audiences and society in general must be reconstructed in the new media spaces. "Public engagement is transforming journalism, offering an historic opportunity to create unprecedented increased value. The media industry in general, and journalism in particular, have been experiencing drastic changes which call into question their role in mediating information to the benefit of their audience as well as disrupting traditional business models. Yet in an age when information is more important than ever, journalism is vital for building societies. It is a systemic part of the social environment. We need to build a new technical, political and financial ecosystem to support it," read the final statement of the GAC on the Future of Journalism, Wilfried Ruetten, a member of the council, posted on European Journalism Centre's Web site Friday.

Because journalism's role is worldwide, as well as national and local, networking provides journalism with a more sustainable business, as well as making it more socially useful, according to the statement.

"The Council believes that it is necessary to redesign organisations and identify business models that ensure the sustainability of professional networked journalism as the digital and mobile media have disrupted traditional distribution models and revenue streams. As a response, news organisations need to ensure constant refining of their talent pool's professional skill set and equip them with innovative tool kits. At the same time, to ensure sustainability and relevance, organisations with journalism and journalists at their core may likely develop joint networks and forge strategic partnerships by pooling resources and sharing revenues," the GAC on the Future of Journalism read, according to another member of the council, David Nordfors.

The council's conclusion is that journalism must have a business model that gives audiences the incentive to be loyal, Nordfors wrote.

"Not surprisingly, we did not produce a new bumper business model for journalism. The council did, however suggest that the WEF lifts journalism higher on its agenda. It was discussed if the WEF may start its own initiative for journalism, focussing on the global agenda issues," he stated.

For the full final statement, click here.

For a list of councils, visit the WEF Web site.