【GCIT News】
Amid rapid technological shifts and an increasingly complex information ecosystem, the journalism industry faces profound challenges in resources, technological disruption, and audience engagement. On December 5 and 8, 2025, Distinguished Professor Trisha Lin, Director of the Master’s Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology (GCIT) at National Chengchi University, invited Professor Lisa Waller, Associate Dean of Communication in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University and a leading media scholar, to deliver a keynote lecture and host a hands-on workshop. The events were chaired by GCIT Director, Distinguished Professor Trisha Lin, and GCIT Assistant Professor Christine Cook, bringing valuable global insights and practical skills to Taiwan’s communication professionals and students.

Resourcing, Technology, and Audiences: Understanding the Emerging Challenges in Journalism
In her December 5 lecture, “Resourcing, Technology and Audiences: An Industry-led Agenda for Journalism Practice and Research,” Professor Waller presented findings from her collaborative research with the Australian news industry. She outlined multiple pressure points facing contemporary journalism, including shrinking newsroom resources, accelerated workflow digitization, shifts in audience behavior driven by new platforms, and the erosion of public trust amid misinformation. While academia strives to understand media transformation, she noted that research often lags behind industry realities—making it crucial for scholars to stay grounded in practitioners’ needs. Professor Waller emphasized “listening” as a guiding principle for journalism research and practice: only by genuinely understanding the pain points of the industry and its audience can meaningful improvements take shape. She further highlighted how AI is reshaping labor in the news media field: “AI will increasingly take on repetitive, basic tasks, while journalists must focus on deeper reporting, contextual analysis, and human-centered storytelling.” Addressing news avoidance and information fatigue, she underscored that trust remains the foundation of journalism: “Audiences must believe the news before they can absorb it.”

From Verification to Practice: OSINT Workshop Strengthens Students’ Media Literacy
During the December 8 OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) workshop, Professor Waller guided students through practical methods of verifying online images, videos, posts, and claims using publicly accessible tools and data. The workshop covered:

• Reverse image searching
• Detecting manipulated or edited visuals
• Analyzing visual clues for time, position, and context
• Comparing materials with databases, archives, and open documents
• Conducting geographic investigations.

Using misinformation circulated during the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict as a case study, she led students through step-by-step verification and emphasized OSINT’s five guiding principles: transparency, ethics, verification, open-mindedness, and personal safety. Students actively engaged in discussion, raising questions about credibility assessment and verification procedures. Professor Waller responded warmly and encouraged persistence: “Don’t be discouraged by the time it takes—this is what makes verification meaningful.”

Cross-Cultural Exchange and Future Collaboration: Professor Waller Praises GCIT’s Vision and Learning Environment
Throughout both events and the follow-up discussions, Professor Waller expressed her deep appreciation for GCIT’s academic environment. She noted that her visit left her “inspired and excited,” describing GCIT as a place filled with creativity, energy, and a strong commitment to using communication to “make a better world.” She encouraged students to “follow your dreams, follow your heart,” and emphasized the importance of listening, learning, and creating with intention. Professor Waller also highlighted the close alignment between GCIT and RMIT in experiential learning, industry engagement, and technology-integrated communication education. She observed that GCIT students demonstrate strong practical capabilities, a willingness to push boundaries, and a creative approach to incorporating new technologies into their work—qualities she believes are essential for the future of global communication. She added that both institutions share similar values and a common purpose, and expressed enthusiasm for exploring potential collaborations. The two-part event not only enriched students’ understanding of journalism’s structural transformations and the impacts of AI but also strengthened their verification skills and media literacy through hands-on practice. The visit further deepened cross-cultural exchange and opened doors for future academic collaboration. GCIT will continue to foster global perspectives, critical thinking, and cross-disciplinary competencies as it prepares the next generation of communication professionals.

[全球傳播與創新科技碩士學位學程獲文化部與教育部高等教育深耕計畫補助]