Where Do We Go From Here? A Conversation on the Future of the Media
By Christina Karras and Ruby Staley
In recent months we’ve seen a string of devastating blows to the media industry. From the cessation of glossy magazines and youth newsrooms to culls of production staff and regional papers, COVID-19 has lead to an overhaul of the industry.
Paired with the repeated heartbreak of racism at home and overseas, it’s left us with questions about what the future of journalism looks like. What follows are some thoughts, feelings and epiphanies we wanted to share.
On 24 Jun 2020, at 2:04 pm, Ruby Staley wrote:
Did you see this thread?
What Bobo said has been really hitting lately.
On 24 Jun 2020, at 2:42 pm, Christina Karras wrote:
Oooft. She makes some good points. Feel like the last few weeks have pulled back the curtain on so many publications we both love and idolise. It’s a bit perturbing.
Seeing former social media manager of PAPER magazine, Peyton Dix, explain the way she had to literally carry that publication on her shoulders and take them to task on racist ideas, made me feel really sad. Bon Appetite's editor resigning over brown-face and Man Repeller recently admitted it’s begun confronting it’s own issues with diversity. Feels like is there no where “good” left to work?
On 24 Jun 2020, at 2:52 pm, Ruby Staley wrote:
I know, it’s insane! I’m having to seriously re-think the career dreams I’ve held close since childhood.
But I do think this shift in the industry is totally necessary. The fact that I wasn’t even across these instances of diversity and racism at those publications before now is so scary. I’ve unconsciously been blinded by my own privilege.
Yes Man Repeller! I’m so glad you brought them up because for sooo long I’ve looked up to that website and everyone who works there. I love their eccentric style of writing, quirky angles and office ‘cool girl’ club. The crazy thing is though, until now I hadn’t even realised how toxic this ‘club’ was and just how problematic the publication as a whole could be.
And it’s not just, MR either. Pretty much every news and media outlet I follow seems to be seriously re-thinking the way they operate.
On 24 Jun 2020, at 3:18 pm, Christina Karras wrote:
Completely necessary but still upsetting. Like no one is surprised that Vogue and Anna Wintour have problems with race and diversity within their ranks (and pages) but I think it was hard hearing how mags like PAPER treated their BIPOC employees because of this illusion that they champion black artists and culture.
I think the discourse around BLM has revealed a lot of weak points, especially how white washed we are here in Australia. Our newsrooms, our presenters, our famous (and infamous) columnists. When people are quick to attack the "the media" I like to remind them that the media's role is to reflect the actions and ideas of our society. But that doesn't sound so profound when you look at pics like this coverage of the BLM protests.
But hearing about the endless cuts I worry there is no room for any of these voices. Especially because a lot of these cuts have hurt the outlets that young people access. VICE, 10 Daily, Buzzfeed etc. all shut down in Australia.
On 24 Jun 2020, at 4:12 PM, Ruby Staley wrote:
I know, it’s honestly heartbreaking. Even the ABC is set to shed 250 jobs after budget cuts by the Australian government. When Pedestrian.TV cut Presenter and Lifestyle Editor Lucinda Price loose, I was shocked - is no one safe? News Corp also recently announced the print closure of more than 100 local and regional newspapers, that’s a lot of talented journos who will lose their jobs.
Strangely though as media outlets began downsizing/shutting media consumption actually went up by 58% because of all the craziness with the pandemic. But the survival of most publications relies not on engagement but instead on advertising dollars, so the audience increase will never equal revenue. And with companies not willing to fork out extra cash for advertising - I mean fair enough we are entering a recession - we’ve seen publications forced to make redundancies, downsize and even close.
On 24 Jun 2020, at 5:20 pm, Christina Karras wrote:
That's the thing though, there's this damaging collective unwillingness to pay for information - probably because we've gotten accustomed to the freedoms of being online and that immediate gratification. But journalism isn't free, and even when it is government funded, people complain that they don't want their tax dollars funding the ABC. It feels like this is knee-capping journalists and the industry from doing it's best work, and I'm not sure how we change that.
On 24 Jun 2020, at 5:45 pm, Ruby Staley wrote:
I guess this is where the paradox of privatising media comes in.
With media outlets relying on funding from outside entities, this leaves them in an awkward position where the information they publish can be externally monitored and regulated. I’ve seen this play out in the way that magazines and newspapers publish advertorials alongside hard hitting journalism leaving readers feeling often blindsided. I feel like for the sake of investigative and proper journalism, there needs to be a clear separation between news and ads.
Obviously, if consumers were willing to pay up for the information that they read, this conundrum would be solved. But it seems an unlikely prospect. What do you think?
On 24 Jun 2020, at 6:24 pm, Christina Karras wrote:
I really don’t know. There’s this ad popping up on my social media which I think is from the New York Times which reads something like, “a free press is one you pay for” and I think that rings true. But at the same time, I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve only just started paying a subscription fee for a few news outlets - and I’m a journalist. So I think we can assume there’s a long way to go before we change that mindset.
I think the other issue is that news outlets are lacking in the public's trust and people have become unwilling to engage. I know so many people who refute the news as doom and gloom, saying it's too depressing to watch or read. But then it begs questions of how you move through the world without being informed??? I know people do it, but I cannot relate. That’s like a slippery slope which leads to believing conspiracy theories…
On 24 Jun 2020, at 6:47 pm, Ruby Staley wrote:
Totally agreed, like I empathise with the majority of people who are now used to free and constant access to information (Google, you’re to blame). But for those who don’t appear interested in ‘traditional’ news, I think outlets like VICE, Junkee, Pedestrian TV and even The Betoota Advocate have adapted in a way that bridges this gap between the news and millennials. Which is a positive step forward for the industry.
Aside from this though, how are you feeling about the way we are moving forward as an industry as a whole?
On 24 Jun 2020, at 7:04 pm, Christina Karras wrote:
It’s a lot right now. I knew I wanted to get into writing and journalism since I was a 16-year-old who idolised Tavi Gevinson and ROOKIE Mag. I think because I had that vision it was easy to be ambitious and hopeful, and to dismiss the boomer voices who always said “there’s no jobs in journalism.” But during this pandemic it’s been hard to keep that optimism.
Of course our industry has a lot of work to do, and the reality is we probably would never have felt the weight of racism and politics in the same way as our BIPOC peers. Going back to that Bobo quote, I’m okay with abolishing my dreams as long as there’s something to replace it. I’m not saying those dreams have to die but they can change and I know I still want to be here in some way. A seismic shift is happening globally, I just hope we make it out the other side.
What about you? Do you think we have to "abolish" our childhood dreams of writing for publications we love who are inherently flawed?
On 24 Jun 2020, at 7:15 pm, Ruby Staley wrote:
I really don’t really know what the future will hold. I wish I did, it would make things a whole lot easier. But I know, like you, that I’ve been feeling strange about the industry for a while.
Since leaving uni, people constantly ask me what my dream journo job is. And to that, my answer obviously changed over time but has reached a point that, now, I’m not even sure I have a ‘dream’ publication in mind. Although it’s strange to not be striving for a end-goal, I’m genuinely happy to be where I am right now, learning the basics.
Although it’s scary, we’ve still got a lot to be grateful for. Hopefully in two, or even ten years, the industry will be in a better place and we’ll be able to start dreaming again.