Journalism in Times of Backsliding Democracies: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age
Date :
2025-12-16
Department :
International Master's Program in International Communication Studies
【Article by College of Communication】
In the course “Digital Disruption, News Media, and Citizen,” taught by Dr. Ssu-Han Yu, a lecture titled “Journalism in Times of Backsliding Democracies: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age” was held on December 3. The speakers, Dr. Carlo Berti, a journalism scholar at Charles University, and Dr.Verica Rupar, head of the Media Diversity Institute, discussed how the rise of populist politics and digital developments are challenging journalism.
The rise of populism and the growing fragility of journalism
Dr. Berti noted that populist discourse often reduces society to a confrontation between “the pure people” and “the corrupt elite,” with news media frequently treated as an obstacle that can be bypassed. Drawing on the idea of a “hybrid media system,” he explained how social media platforms allow politicians to speak directly to the public, weakening journalism’s traditional gatekeeping role. He shared an Italian case in which a politician asked to replace a conventional interview with a pre-recorded video, illustrating how reporters are gradually being pushed out of public conversation. At the same time, personal attacks and character assassination directed at journalists, combined with the rapid churn of content on social platforms, leave news organizations caught in a dilemma between speed and fact-checking.
From public knowledge to platform black boxes
Dr. Rupar approached the issue from the perspective of journalism as knowledge production. She pointed out that as AI-generated images become widespread, audiences have begun to question the authenticity of what they see, shaking their trust in news. She reminded the audience that the gateways to knowledge have shifted from public institutions to large platforms, where search and recommendation are largely driven by commercial interests and algorithmic logics, shaping how journalists understand the world. She also introduced the Paris Charter on AI and Journalism, emphasizing that AI-generated content must be clearly labeled and must adhere to established professional standards.
Discussion and Q&A: preserving the warmth of face-to-face encounters
During the Q&A session, in response to questions about growing cooperation between news organizations and AI companies, Dr. Berti warned that if large technology firms come to dominate the production and distribution of news, journalism’s role as a watchdog may be weakened. Dr. Rupar, drawing on the example of social media influencers appearing at White House press briefings, noted that communicative power in politics has partially shifted to platforms and content creators.
Responding to a question from Dr. Ssu-Han Yu about whether the habit of directing questions straight to search engines and AI systems has changed how journalists interact with interviewees, Dr. Rupar encouraged future journalists not to give up face-to-face conversations. Genuine understanding, she stressed, still depends on listening.
In the course “Digital Disruption, News Media, and Citizen,” taught by Dr. Ssu-Han Yu, a lecture titled “Journalism in Times of Backsliding Democracies: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age” was held on December 3. The speakers, Dr. Carlo Berti, a journalism scholar at Charles University, and Dr.Verica Rupar, head of the Media Diversity Institute, discussed how the rise of populist politics and digital developments are challenging journalism.
The rise of populism and the growing fragility of journalism
Dr. Berti noted that populist discourse often reduces society to a confrontation between “the pure people” and “the corrupt elite,” with news media frequently treated as an obstacle that can be bypassed. Drawing on the idea of a “hybrid media system,” he explained how social media platforms allow politicians to speak directly to the public, weakening journalism’s traditional gatekeeping role. He shared an Italian case in which a politician asked to replace a conventional interview with a pre-recorded video, illustrating how reporters are gradually being pushed out of public conversation. At the same time, personal attacks and character assassination directed at journalists, combined with the rapid churn of content on social platforms, leave news organizations caught in a dilemma between speed and fact-checking.
From public knowledge to platform black boxes
Dr. Rupar approached the issue from the perspective of journalism as knowledge production. She pointed out that as AI-generated images become widespread, audiences have begun to question the authenticity of what they see, shaking their trust in news. She reminded the audience that the gateways to knowledge have shifted from public institutions to large platforms, where search and recommendation are largely driven by commercial interests and algorithmic logics, shaping how journalists understand the world. She also introduced the Paris Charter on AI and Journalism, emphasizing that AI-generated content must be clearly labeled and must adhere to established professional standards.
Discussion and Q&A: preserving the warmth of face-to-face encounters
During the Q&A session, in response to questions about growing cooperation between news organizations and AI companies, Dr. Berti warned that if large technology firms come to dominate the production and distribution of news, journalism’s role as a watchdog may be weakened. Dr. Rupar, drawing on the example of social media influencers appearing at White House press briefings, noted that communicative power in politics has partially shifted to platforms and content creators.
Responding to a question from Dr. Ssu-Han Yu about whether the habit of directing questions straight to search engines and AI systems has changed how journalists interact with interviewees, Dr. Rupar encouraged future journalists not to give up face-to-face conversations. Genuine understanding, she stressed, still depends on listening.