Journalists need to create less and curate more

Ask a person – or an LLM for that matter – what the purpose of journalism is, and the answer you're most likely to get is: to inform the public. That’s at the same time a perfectly legitimate answer and the most damaging misconception about our profession. 

Of course, providing people with accurate and timely information about what’s happening in the world, in their country and in their community is a fundamental role that journalism plays in society. But too often we stop there, and that’s when the damage happens. 

Because in a world where most people don’t trust journalism organisations, and don’t even think of paying for the information we are so proud to serve to them, such a narrow understanding of our purpose will only make things worse. Or at the very least, it won’t make them any better.

You can provide the most amazing information, but if no one sees it because they don’t trust you, what’s that for? Healing the relationship with the public requires more from us. It requires us to create less and curate more; to talk with people rather than at them; to spend more time listening, convening, and facilitating conversations, and less time writing and recording. 

If information is the destination of the journey, I believe 2026 is the year when we will finally care for the journey itself, and the people who share it with us, just as much.