The 24/7 internet news cycle revolutionised how quality journalism could be shared far and wide. But it broke the business model for funding the news. Now the industry convulses with job cuts and scrambles to make a buck competing with free online infotainment and news-aggregating apps.
For many readers, paying for online news seems absurd when fascinating and seemingly factual click-bait content is a finger tap away. Yet how can we stay sure of the truth, how can we know what we read is representative and balanced?
Featuring three media leaders, this lecture explores turbulence in news making. It contrasts the rise of native advertising and advertorial with quality, online editorial and expert opinion, that tracks events and issues for a rising tide of readers worldwide. And it considers journalism’s future - can it survive the times while keeping our trust?
Peter Fray, UTS Professor of Journalism Practice, UTS Arts and Social Sciences
Peter Fray is one of the country's most experienced and innovative media professionals. A former editor or editor-in-chief of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun-Herald, The Canberra Times and The Sunday Age, he has lived the reality of the digital revolution that's forever changed the way journalism is practiced, received and distributed. His startup, PolitiFact Australia, helped bring the fact-checking revolution to Australia for the 2013 federal election and instilled in him the need to collaborate, innovate and find new ways of connecting audiences with journalism — and making it pay. Peter joined UTS to lead its journalism program in late 2015 after a stint as deputy editor of The Australian.
Jim Macnamara, UTS Professor of Public Communication
Jim joined UTS in 2007 as Professor of Public Communication after three decades working in professional communication practice spanning journalism, public relations, advertising and media research. He is a researcher and thought leader in measuring and evaluating public communication campaigns, and social media use and impact. His work also explores the effectiveness and ethics of public relations and emerging practices such as 'native advertising'. He is widely published, including six academic books, ten professional practice books, and numerous academic journal articles. He was formerly CEO of marketing and corporate communication consultancy MACRO Communication and was the founder of the Asia Pacific office of the global media research firm, CARMA International.
Andrew Jaspan, Executive Director & Editor, The Conversation
Andrew co-founded The Conversation - a free independent source of high-quality, authenticated, explanatory news and commentary, sourced from the academic and research community and delivered direct to the public. He previously edited The Age, The Observer (London), The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Big Issue (London), and he founded and edited the Sunday Herald in Scotland. He is the Asia-Pacific Director for Innovation Media. Since it was first established in Australia 2011, The Conversation now also operates in the UK, US, France and Southern Africa, with additional global locations planned for the near future.