Why societal change and technology may be key to Americans regaining trust in the news media

Is all hope lost for the future of the news media in the U.S.?

There’s reason to be optimistic, two experts say, though new models for disseminating factual information are sorely needed and it’s worth paying attention to how younger Americans consume news.

“We have to do something radically different,” said Chris Licht, founding partner and CEO of CLC Partners and a former executive at CNN and other TV networks, speaking at the Fast Company Grill at SXSW. “Millions of people get their news and information from people that are actually giving opinion.”

“[We’ve] got to focus on, in this modern media world, separating those two things again,” he added.

While untangling news and opinion could help to regain trust, Licht also envisions something like “Uber for the news business,” such that reporters are paid for newsgathering and the information of facts is available to consumers as something like a utility.

“I think technology is going to play a massive role in restoring trust in what’s happening,” he says.

THE TRUTH MUST MATTER TO CONSUMERS

What’s more, Gen Z is likely to play a big role in guiding what’s next for the industry, as their consumption patterns differ from their older counterparts.

That’s according to Steven Rosenbaum, executive director of the nonprofit Sustainable Media Center and author of the forthcoming book The Future of Truth.

“They consume a lot of news, they read a lot of things, they listen to a lot of voices, they query them,” he said.

“I think what you’re seeing here today is the beginning of a rising tide that says, ‘You know what? This thing truth matters to me,’” Rosenbaum added. “I think we are on our way into a really good chapter, with a lot of pain and suffering along the way.”