Bringing journalism directly to the people

Dear reader,

Last weekend, the True Story Festival took place in Bern. The journalism festival focuses on engaging with the wider public: more than three dozen events gave audiences the opportunity to interact with journalists. Swissinfo is a media partner of the festival.

The invited journalists came from all over the world. What struck me in conversations with some of them were two things that seem to apply to the industry globally: the situation for the media is challenging. And many see a way forward in bringing journalism closer to the people – through formats like this, among others.

The traditional business model of many newspapers, based on a mix of advertising and subscriptions, has not worked for some time in the digital age. Now a new fear has emerged: some expect the rapid spread of AI to lead to a genuine crisis for the industry.

New models are therefore needed – and direct engagement with readers is becoming increasingly important. It helps build transparency and trust, and people are willing to pay for that.

And, apparently, they are also willing to listen to journalists talk about their stories. The festival was very well attended – more so, in my view, than in previous years. Some colleagues told me they are considering trying a similar format in their own organisations.

Because one thing AI cannot do is go out, talk to people, observe and report. It is classic reportage – and journalism still thrives on its ability to tell powerful stories.

To avoid being overwhelmed by all the negative developments, it helps to pause from time to time and focus on our strengths. Nigerian journalist Usman Abba Zanna summed it up well. He said the festival was “a reminder that stories have power, but only if we have the courage to tell them and the humanity to listen”.

What is the situation of the media in your country? As always, you can write to me at [e-mail]

Best regards,

Giannis Mavris

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