The train is about to depart. I write these lines from the of the Washington, D.C., station waiting room, awaiting the journey to New York City—one of the most anticipated stops of our trip. The World Press Institute (WPI) fellows have already visited seven states since the fellowship began on September 5, and we now enter the final stretch. The moment invites some reflection.
Crossing the American media landscape – from the investigative rigor of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and Mother Jones in San Francisco to the digital innovation of Axios and Politico in D.C., has reaffirmed one idea: journalists must adapt their craft to remain relevant in the digital age.
The United States, long viewed as a model of press freedom, is now facing a profound crisis of trust and polarization. “It’s increasingly hard to argue that we are not in a global recession of freedom and democracy,” said Yuval Levin, the director of Social, Cultural and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), during our visit in Washington. In such a climate, journalism must reclaim its democratic purpose as a tool to strengthen civic life, he added.
The challenge is immense. Pew Research Center data, shared by Associate Director Mike Lipka, show that nearly half of U.S. adults (49%) believe journalists are “losing influence in society,” while a majority (58%) consider them “biased.” Yet public expectations remain high: 84% want the news to be accurate, and 64% expect journalists to correct false or misleading claims.
“Audiences are hungry for truthful reporting, but they’re tired of the relentless negativity,” said Mother Jones CEO Monika Bauerlein during a meeting with WPI in her newsroom.
Here are three strategies I’ve learned during this fellowship that might help journalists reconnect with their audiences and recover their public role.
- Embrace solutions, not just problems
The mission of journalism should be, more than ever, demonstrating its civic value through tangible impact.
The Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), a nonprofit that trains and supports reporters around the globe, defines its approach as “rigorous, evidence-based reporting on responses to social problems.” Its focus is not merely on what’s wrong but on how people and institutions are addressing challenges, amid an increasing news fatigue.
As explained during a workshop in Chicago, this type of reporting documents responses that yield insights others can apply. The Seoul food-waste management case – where a “pay-as-you-waste” policy boosted recycling from 2% to 95% – illustrates how constructive coverage can inspire policy innovation and rebuild civic trust.
- Master brevity and meet audiences where they are
The battleground for attention has shifted decisively online. News consumption today is “digital and accidental,” as Lipka put it. If we wait for audiences to come to us, we’ll probably lose them.
Axios Editor in Chief Nicholas Johnston advocates for “Smart Brevity,” a philosophy of getting to the point fast and designing content for mobile screens. Readers spend an average of eight seconds on a page. Dense paragraphs become “a miserable experience,” he said, while scannable text – with bolding and bullet points – helps readers stay engaged.
Meanwhile, young adults are increasingly turning to non-traditional sources. Research presented at Northwestern’s Medill School showed that nearly one-third of respondents consume local news from content creators daily compared with 18% from local newspapers. To reach them, journalism should sound “conversational and peer-to-peer,” not preach from above, said Ben Reininga, the vice president of Audio and Video at Politico in Washington.
- Treat AI as a force multiplier
AI Technology is no longer optional but essential.
In a fellowship workshop on AI, Program Director Camilla Bath described artificial intelligence as a “force multiplier.” Used ethically, it can streamline tasks such as summarizing interviews or extracting key takeaways, freeing journalists to focus on deeper reporting.
AI also has the potential to expand coverage to “small places previously uncovered,” making local journalism viable again with limited resources. The key is using it responsibly to enhance, not replace, human judgment and editorial rigor.
We stand at a historic juncture. Institutions everywhere are losing credibility, while younger audiences consume information in new, fragmented ways. Journalism’s renewal will demand courage and adaptation. Embracing solutions-based reporting to rebuild trust, mastering digital storytelling to meet audiences where they are, and leveraging technology to maximize reach and relevance might become some effective strategies to tackle the current challenges.
This new playbook is not merely about survival: it’s about securing the future of a professional press, an indispensable pillar of democracy.
