In a speech at the Society of Editors Media Freedom conference, Mitali Mukherjee highlighted the growing disconnect between news publishers and audiences.
Mitali Mukherjee, acting director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, has warned that the gap between news organisations and their audiences is widening, and said publishers must change not just their business models but the kind of journalism they produce if they want to survive.
Speaking at the Society of Editors Media Freedom conference in London, Mukherjee said many people now feel alienated by the news. “The news, or the news industry, misses its audiences, but the audience doesn’t miss the news,” she said, pointing to growing levels of news avoidance, especially among younger people and lower-income groups.
Her remarks echo calls from others, including Alan Hunter, co-founder of Tomorrow’s Publisher, whose essay A New Journalism argues that traditional editorial assumptions and formats are no longer fit for purpose. Like Mukherjee, he believes the shift that’s needed is as much editorial as it is financial.
Between 20% and 30% of the public now actively avoid news, according to Mukherjee. One of the reasons, she said, is a sense of being misrepresented or ignored by news organisations.
Mukherjee said trust could still be rebuilt, but only if publishers understand that audiences think about fairness and transparency differently than journalists do. For those inside newsrooms, transparency means explaining how a story was reported. For readers and viewers, it often comes down to the why — the perceived motivations of a news brand or journalist.
She argued that the most effective way to rebuild trust was to change the nature of the journalism itself. Stories rooted in community action — such as local efforts to protect green spaces or promote biodiversity — tend to perform better and feel more relevant. “It’s giving people the impetus and the affirmation that they can take action,” she said.
Mukherjee also spoke about the importance of staying connected to how audiences consume news. She noted that Facebook was regaining relevance as a news platform for some publishers, and said AI was beginning to reshape how younger audiences engage with current affairs. She cautioned against publishers abandoning platforms like X (formerly Twitter) without understanding the consequences for reach and relevance.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/mitali-mukherjee-reuters-institute-tough-love-news-audiences-lost-way/ – This URL supports the claim that Mitali Mukherjee discussed the challenges facing the news industry, including issues of trust and audience engagement, at the Society of Editors Media Freedom conference.
- https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/mitali-mukherjee-reuters-institute-tough-love-news-audiences-lost-way/ – This URL corroborates Mukherjee’s assertion about the correlation between decreasing trust and increasing news avoidance, particularly among younger and economically disadvantaged groups.
- https://www.co.matagorda.tx.us/upload/page/5703/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf – Although unrelated to Mukherjee’s remarks directly, this URL highlights legal procedures and could indirectly support discussions on legal and ethical issues within journalism.
- https://www.laudesfoundation.org/latest/news-and-stories/stories/2024/ten-questions-with-mitali-mukherjee/ – This URL provides background information on Mitali Mukherjee’s focus on climate journalism and her role at the Reuters Institute, supporting her emphasis on local climate stories.
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reuters-institute-for-the-study-of-journalism/id381703153 – This URL links to a podcast series where Mitali Mukherjee discusses topics such as climate journalism and technological trends in journalism, aligning with her views on AI and social media.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The content appears recent with references to contemporary media trends and AI technology. However, without a specific date, it’s difficult to verify if it is the latest news. The narrative does not indicate any significantly outdated information.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
There are quotes provided, but the earliest known references could not be verified online. Given the context, these could be original quotes from recent events.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Press Gazette, which is a reputable source for media news, enhancing credibility and trustworthiness.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
Claims about diminishing trust in media and the role of AI are plausible and align with current trends. However, specific statistics (e.g., 20-30% news avoidance) lacked supporting evidence, which does not necessarily invalidate the claims but reduces verifiability.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is generally credible, with a strong source and plausible claims. The content seems recent, although some specific details lack verification. Quotes appear original and are not easily verifiable online.
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