World Press Freedom Day. Ask the tough questions
Published 05/05/2020 on signis.net
By Augustine Anthuvan, SIGNIS Asia
“Game of Thrones” is responsible for many iconic quotes that have made their way into our daily lives but my all-time favourite phrase which also serves as a warning is “Winter is coming”. That foreboding motto from the Emmy Award-winning TV drama series speaks to me on so many different levels and I use it every time I launch into my lesson, be it journalism or strategic media relations.
The “Winter is Coming” meme has come to signify for me at least, the impending arrival of an ominous event which some would argue has already come true: the drumbeat has gotten louder and winter is coming for the entire communications sector. The entire media and communications industry is up against a growing force in the world that has its roots in the internet revolution. Sure, every global media giant and national media company that has a newsroom has embraced the digital shift and is going further by tying up with new media firms to bring its content to new audiences. And with nations either in partial or full lockdown because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, established research institutes have produced valuable insights – media consumption has seen a massive increase. Good news for now.
However, against this backdrop, several questions come to mind: what exactly are people doing, where are they going online, how are they staying informed? Are consumers practicing media literacy during stay-at-home? What does media literacy mean in such a time of crisis? What happens when citizens in a country will no longer agree to a common set of facts? While you ponder on these questions – let me be very clear. I’m not saying its over for traditional print, radio, tv and digital newsrooms. Many have chosen to lift their paywalls on COVID-19 related content and are actively engaging consumers, inviting them to send questions which the media in turn can pose to politicians and experts alike.
From the research that I’m reading on media consumption in a COVID-19 world – the results are mixed. While some consumers view the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most trusted source of information for COVID-19 related news and updates, other consumers view their government as their most trusted news source.
When the post-COVID-19 ‘new normal’ kicks in, what will the media landscape be like? Will the public continue to trust the media? In the online world, the public are asking tough questions. And with the younger population consuming news through websites and apps – if journalists don’t ask the tough questions, then the mainstream news as we know it – will begin to die a slow death.
World Press Freedom Day is a reminder that at the heart of any healthy and functioning democracy – there must be space for strong and independent journalism to thrive. And journalists must ask the tough questions without fear or favour and to remember, that one of the elements of good journalism is loyalty to citizens. By ensuring that allegiance to citizens, we are building a relationship and empowering citizens to actively engage into the debate, ask questions and gain further insights into the crisis and its impacts.
In closing, recently when I was walking along a particular street in Singapore, I came across this very powerful question on the glass exterior of an international school.
“ How will the world change
if we do not question it? ”
Kate DiCamillo
Augustine Anthuvan, after 22+ years in international journalism, is now an independent writer, social commentator, media lecturer, moderator-at-large and member of SIGNIS. Based in Singapore, he continues to work in Southeast Asia – a region he loves and calls home.