Why we need journalism

Somehow, despite the wealth of ‘‘connective’’ technologies at our fingertips, communities today feel (in many ways) more disconnected and siloed than ever before. Social media does little more than create an echo chamber where people (sometimes inadvertently, other times not) are exposed only to the views that they support – where their biases are reflected back at them and reinforced.

This technology has exacerbated the already widespread problem of inequality, through ‘‘the digital divide’’. Kids without access to the internet, or internet-connected devices – at home, or at school – are almost guaranteed to be at a disadvantage later in life.

Growing congestion in major cities means that people tend, if possible, to find accommodation near where they work, or a job near where they live – whichever came first. We see the same people. We stick to our villages. And even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll know your neighbours.

With all of that in mind, the question (to me) becomes: if we live our lives surrounded by people just like us – who share the same views and privileges – what impact does that have on our sense of connectedness, understanding and empathy for others?

Whatever the impact is, it can’t be good. And without empathy, what chance do we have of preserving and sustaining a functioning community, let alone a functioning democracy?

Against this backdrop, we’re largely reliant on quality journalism to open us up to the rest of the world – and shine a light on different perspectives, experiences and points of view.

Not only that, but quality journalism helps advocate for change, address issues of inequality, and hold the powerful to account to ensure they’re delivering on what society needs most.

When done well, it can have an incredibly powerful impact. For example, in business, the issue of diversity in leadership has long been a heated point of discussion.

A number of years back, two journalists at the Australian Financial Review ran a series – a campaign – on the dearth of female leadership in business. Every week, there was a new story on the lack of women on boards, the lack of female CEOs. After a while it became impossible to ignore. It shone a spotlight on the issue, and people (MPs, regulators, boards) started to pay attention.

I’ve no doubt that’s why Australia has made such progress towards ensuring greater diversity in leadership – with a higher proportion of women on listed company boards than many other countries around the world.

Closer to home, we’re starting to see more and more of this type of journalism. In-depth series tackling incredibly important social issues like cancer, poverty, or climate change, that have stimulated (or have the potential to stimulate) real and significant change.

Presenting the facts – using real life stories from real people – in a consistent and measured way, really does make a difference.

When you can access this sort of journalism for free, like we can in New Zealand, there’s a real danger of taking it for granted. And, as the saying goes, when you don’t appreciate what you’ve got, there’s always the chance it’ll be taken away.

That’s why it’s so important that we continue to engage with and support quality journalism in New Zealand. You don’t have to agree, but you have to engage. Because it’s a vital part of society, of democracy – and so losing it really isn’t an option.