Toni Hetherington GAICD’s Post

Some changes ahead: I'm leaving academia to "help people who are working to save democracy, and by extension freedom of expression, in part by helping journalism perform its most essential role." More in my new blog post: https://lnkd.in/gx_8Rg-e

Gillmor writes in part, "The status quo in political (and related) coverage consists of sporadically noting that gosh-maybe-there’s-a-problem, while sticking mostly to journalistic business as usual. The status quo is journalistic malpractice." We see "gosh-maybe-there's-a-problem" treatment in news coverage of trafficking all the time, though we've described it in slightly different words. It's a kind of wide-eyed, "hey, can you believe there's trafficking going on in this city/town" treatment on repeat. Yes, there is trafficking here, there, everywhere. Better reporting tells audiences what it looks like, what's being done to combat it and by whom/what groups, to what effect, as an example. If you find yourself writing the former kind of story, go deeper. It's not an understatement to say that substantive reporting on human trafficking is a contribution toward the health of a democracy.

Big news and important work coming up from one of the leading lights in journalism and digital media. I can't wait to hear more from Dan about his next phase, toward saving democracy and freedom of expression!

An opportunity to improve journalistic skills in line with emerging trends in the trade.

Newsgames are helping young people build crucial media literacy skills. As more turn to social media for their news, it's more important than ever for the next generation to learn how to spot false and misleading information online. Here are some ideas from Priyal S. 👇

In the nine months of the Digital News Academy, we teach a plethora of digital tools and skills across different journalism fields. Everything we do is designed to be practical and immediately useful and it seems some tools have become true graduate favourites.  What is your favourite digital tool? Let us know in comments. News Corp Australia Google News Initiative Melbourne Business School #digitalnewsacademy

The world recently celebrated The Global Media and Information Literacy Week, it gets very important to reflect on our our role in the process; 'How can we embrace Media Literacy in a Digital Age' along with 'contemplating on the role journalists play in it as significant stakeholders'🌐 Media literacy empowers us to navigate this intricate web, fostering critical thinking and information evaluation. It equips us with the tools to separate truth from misinformation, enabling informed decision-making.📰 In today's digital landscape, media literacy is more crucial than ever. With an avalanche of information at our fingertips, discerning fact from fiction is a formidable challenge. Journalists play a pivotal role in this endeavor. Journalists are the gatekeepers of reliable information. They are the torchbearers of truth, ensuring that society is well-informed. Their ethical reporting and fact-checking are the bedrock of a trustworthy media environment. As we navigate the digital realm, let's not just consume, but critically evaluate what we encounter. Let's appreciate the dedication of journalists who tirelessly seek the truth. Media literacy and responsible journalism are our compasses in this information age, for they are the need of the hour🌟💡 Take this as your call to ponder upon this #medialiteracy #digitalage #journalism #truthmatters

Our 2024 Relevance Report breaks down the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the communications industry. Contributor Christina Bellantoni, a Pulitzer Prize winner, director of Annenberg Media, and USC Annenberg professor, discusses the evolving role of artificial intelligence in journalism and how it can enhance storytelling. "Yes, the game is changing. But make no mistake: The playbook, the essence of journalism and effective storytelling, is still very much in the hands of those who pen the first and final draft." Read more from Bellantoni here: https://lnkd.in/gWYP-Myd *Image generated with assistance from DALL-E.

Brainstorming Solutions to Disinformation "Students, researchers, organizations, and companies are developing innovative ways to counter disinformation on social media, either by reducing its reach or by working to help users become more discerning consumers of information. A number of these new approaches were explored at a National Academies workshop earlier this month. Prior to the event, the workshop planning committee put out a call for solutions from academia, industry, journalism, civil society, policy, and government. More than 100 ideas and initiatives were submitted, and the committee selected 14 for presentation and discussion at the workshop." https://lnkd.in/gsaPacqy

Super proud to share that I have officially earnt my first Digital News Academy badge! Thanks for all of your guidance Sonja Heydeman, Christina Arampatzi and Maggie Zhang, plus all of the amazing guest speakers we have been privy to learning digital news skills from to date. Excited to learn about verification next. #digitalstorytelling #mobilejournalism #verticalstorytelling