“How Would You Feel About A 100-Year-Old Doctor?”
This recent New York Times headline got me wondering if I was digital journalism’s version of a 100-year-old doctor. After all, I’m old enough to have my 50th high school reunion penciled in on my calendar for next year.
Why would Nieman Lab ask somebody as old as I am to predict the future of journalism?
My answer, as an AARP card-carrying Boomer, is that I’m predicting 2023 will be a year of intergenerational learning that will have a positive impact on the future of journalism. There is so much we can do together if we can build on the experiences that have shaped how we see the world and live our lives. Gen Xers, Millennials, Gen Zers, and Boomers, it’s time to join forces to make journalism that serves all of our communities and helps make our world a better place for all.
Here are some positive signs there is value in our hard-won gray hairs and wrinkles.
Admittedly, there are a lot of factors that could get in the way of my prediction coming true. One obvious one is that Boomers have the hubris to believe that we know what’s best. That’s just one of many justifiable reasons that our experience is undervalued. Members of my generation have had an unfair advantage due to our gender, race, and privilege. We may not even know what we don’t know or the harm we have caused.
That said, local news is in crisis. Public trust in journalism is at an all-time low. Our business model is failing. The first amendment is under attack. What does our industry have to lose? Maybe Boomers like me can leverage our experience to clean up some of the mess our generation created.
Check back with me next year to find out.
John Davidow is a founder of Media Bridge Partners.
“How Would You Feel About A 100-Year-Old Doctor?”
This recent New York Times headline got me wondering if I was digital journalism’s version of a 100-year-old doctor. After all, I’m old enough to have my 50th high school reunion penciled in on my calendar for next year.
Why would Nieman Lab ask somebody as old as I am to predict the future of journalism?
My answer, as an AARP card-carrying Boomer, is that I’m predicting 2023 will be a year of intergenerational learning that will have a positive impact on the future of journalism. There is so much we can do together if we can build on the experiences that have shaped how we see the world and live our lives. Gen Xers, Millennials, Gen Zers, and Boomers, it’s time to join forces to make journalism that serves all of our communities and helps make our world a better place for all.
Here are some positive signs there is value in our hard-won gray hairs and wrinkles.
Admittedly, there are a lot of factors that could get in the way of my prediction coming true. One obvious one is that Boomers have the hubris to believe that we know what’s best. That’s just one of many justifiable reasons that our experience is undervalued. Members of my generation have had an unfair advantage due to our gender, race, and privilege. We may not even know what we don’t know or the harm we have caused.
That said, local news is in crisis. Public trust in journalism is at an all-time low. Our business model is failing. The first amendment is under attack. What does our industry have to lose? Maybe Boomers like me can leverage our experience to clean up some of the mess our generation created.
Check back with me next year to find out.
John Davidow is a founder of Media Bridge Partners.
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Anika Anand Independent news businesses lead the way on healthy work cultures
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Gabe Schneider Well-funded journalism leaders stop making disparate pay
Jessica Maddox Journalists keep getting manipulated by internet culture
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Julia Angwin Democracies will get serious about saving journalism
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Francesco Zaffarano There is no end of “social media”
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Sarah Marshall A web channel strategy won’t be enough
Eric Nuzum A focus on people instead of power
Larry Ryckman We’ll work together with our competitors
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Kirstin McCudden We’ll codify protection of journalism and newsgathering
Cassandra Etienne Local news fellowships will help fight newsroom inequities
Masuma Ahuja Journalism starts working for and with its communities
Joe Amditis AI throws a lifeline to local publishers
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Dominic-Madori Davis Everyone finally realizes the need for diverse voices in tech reporting
Taylor Lorenz The “creator economy” will be astroturfed
Joshua P. Darr Local to live, wire to wither
Michael W. Wagner The backlash against pro-democracy reporting is coming
Alan Henry A reckoning with why trust in news is so low
Khushbu Shah Global reporting will suffer
Hillary Frey Death to the labor-intensive memo for prospective hires
Tim Carmody Newsletter writers need a new ethics
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David Skok Renewed interest in human-powered reporting
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Jody Brannon We’ll embrace policy remedies
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Paul Cheung More news organizations will realize they are in the business of impact, not eyeballs
Richard Tofel The press might get better at vetting presidential candidates
Jaden Amos TikTok personality journalists continue to rise
Jakob Moll Journalism startups will think beyond English
Jonas Kaiser Rejecting the “free speech” frame
Alexandra Svokos Working harder to reach audiences where they are
Amethyst J. Davis The slight of the great contraction
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Andrew Donohue We’ll find out whether journalism can, indeed, save democracy
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Jim VandeHei There is no “peak newsletter”
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