Richard Gingras, the Vice President of News at Google, delivered a compelling speech at the West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference (WAJIC) in Abuja on July 25.
He emphasized the crisis of relevance faced by the media, attributed to declining audience trust and inundation of negative news.
In his address, Gingras called on journalists to adopt more constructive reporting styles and highlighted the importance of linguistic considerations in bridging societal divisions. This article explores his key points, along with recommendations from industry professionals for achieving financial sustainability in journalism.
Gingras expressed concern over the decreasing consumption of serious news by society. According to the Reuters Institute, less than 10% of people regularly engage with serious news, while Google’s data shows that less than 2% of search queries relate to serious news topics. To combat this trend, he stressed the need for the media to rebuild audience trust by changing the narrative structures of news to convey constructive values.
The Google News VP advocated for reporting even tragic events like bus crashes with a constructive approach. Instead of focusing solely on the negative aspects, journalists should explore the reasons behind the incidents and propose potential solutions. Moving beyond the old adage of “if it bleeds, it leads,” journalists can make their reporting more constructive and informative.
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Financial Sustainability through Community Engagement
Gingras highlighted the significance of journalism becoming the go-to source of information for communities, particularly in the age of social media platforms. By addressing the overall needs of their communities, media outlets can enrich the fabric of society and achieve financial sustainability. This approach not only benefits the community but also strengthens the important accountability journalism that is produced.
During a panel session at WAJIC, media professionals recommended exploring micro journalism and diversifying business models to sustain the sector. Joshua Olufemi, founder of the media organization Dataphyte, pointed out that journalism’s focus on political issues has left many segments of the population underserved. By diversifying and thinking micro, media organizations can cater to niche audiences and find innovative ways to aggregate multiple revenue streams.
Olufemi emphasized the need to identify unmet needs in various sectors and address them through journalism. He suggested that even non-digital solutions could be successful, citing the potential for indigenous language reporting to serve specific communities effectively.
David Adeleke, Africa Editor for Rest of World, underscored the financial challenges faced by journalism on the continent. While subscriptions and advertising play crucial roles, they may not be sufficient to sustain media organizations. Adeleke urged stakeholders to be open to exploring new business models and innovative funding approaches.
The 2022 Media Sustainability Conference
The topic of media funding was a major focus during the 2022 Media Sustainability Conference organized by The ICIR. Experts, including Professor Umar Pate and Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, urged media houses to adopt innovative business models and constantly assess readers’ interests to enhance their sustainability.
Richard Gingras’ call for constructive journalism and building audience trust resonates deeply in the current media landscape. As media organizations face challenges of relevance and financial sustainability, adopting diverse business models and engaging with communities can provide a way forward. By embracing innovation and continuously reevaluating readers’ interests, journalism can thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
The West Africa, Journalism Innovation Conference, serves as a platform for these crucial discussions, enabling media professionals to navigate the changing industry with resilience and creativity.