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Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2021
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Sam Jose
4:57
Hello and welcome to the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2021. In the panel we have Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Shashikumar, upriya Sharma, and Dhanya Rajendran. The panel was moderated by Manisha Pande.
4:59
Manisha begins the discussion by introducing the panel members and pointing out the concept of neutrality. She states that 40% of the responders expect the responsible media. She then asks Dhanya about the word neutrality.
5:01
Dhanya responds by stating that the word neutrality does not exist because we are human beings. She states that people simplifies news by putting in columns and this is not simple neutrality.
5:02
Supriya is startled by the expectations of consumers towards neutrality.  She believes that this is not a question of symmetry but the traditional value of journalism lies in being able to ask the different questions from all viewpoints
5:03
Sashikumar adds to this by stating that neutrality in a clinical sense,did not make any sense and that there were two kinds of objectivity.
5:05
Dhanya furthers the discussion by discussion how when it comes to rape crimes there people are more polarized. She states that it is here that they want their versions to come into play.
5:06
Manisha references the Hathras rape case that Dhanya had mentioned. She asks that if people cannot view journalists as reliable, then what could this viewpoint do to journalism?
5:07
Sashikumar follows this thread by stating that right now the channels which are really high ratings are the least trusted and that 40% of the viewers don't give importance to the trust factor.
5:09
Rasmus adds that one of the most difficult things for a journalist to do is to distinguish between bad faith attempts. He states that it is very problematic that there exists people who question journalistic practices in the regular.
5:10
Rasmus also adds that the perception of journalists as the watchdogs of society plays a pivotal role in affecting the trust that people instill in news outlets.
5:13
Sashikumar follows this up with the practical example of the Wire and the Republics and how close they are to each other when it comes to brand trust. He states that what exists there are echo chambers. He then adds that DD and AIR have brand trust not just in news but in all aspects.
5:14
Manisha adds to this by stating that the reason behind the romantisization of Doordarshan is because people want someone to carry the news in a peaceful way, without shouting at guests.
5:16
Supriya then poses the idea that the reason people discount channels like DD is that it comes from these channels being government funded.
5:18
Supriya further adds that the values of a independent journalist is to built trust among people.
5:21
Dhanya adds to Supriya's answer by stating that there exists two groups of news consumers, one that believe journalists and the other that does not. She adds that those that do not have trust in the media have had a change opinion.She states that they have begun to believe that journalists share their stories. This she states is because the pandemic has shown to the public that there is a part of the Indian media that cares about the public.
5:22
Supriya adds that Indians felt abandoned by the government during the second wave of the pandemic and this is where mainstream media was seen standing up for the citizen and asking the hard hitting questions to the government.
5:23
5:24
Sashikumar then points out that standalone portal and digital media are right now the front line of journalism because they are bold and speak the truth. He adds that there is a big shift taking place in journalism, and media ecology.
5:25
Manisha then adds that newspapers still are the go to place for individuals. She asks how this notion will turn out to be in the future?
5:27
Sashikumar furthers this line of discussion by stating that the growth of the digital portal is fast. He also adds that new readership is coming to digital media with different languages adapting to the medium.
5:30
Rasmus expresses his concern about regional news organizations and their future, questioning their ability to adapt to the changing environment. He points out media like the Scroll which are more focused that regional papers. He also states that the  pressure placed on these organizations will force them to seek government funding.
5:33
Dhanya disagrees with rasmus and agrees with Sashikumar. She says that the growth of regional news should not just rely on newspapers. She states that the influence of regional media is not that prevalent in print, but it is present in television.
5:34
Manisha asks what the opinion of consumers is when it comes to paid subscription. She asks if they were getting to a point where there is an understanding that the news has to be paid for ?
5:37
Rasmus answers this by stating that the manner in which television developed in India was dependent on advertisement and that this played a big role in the perception of cost for news. He adds that this is why it is difficult to convince people to pay for news that is otherwise perceived to be free through media such as TV.
5:38
Supriya then talks of how subscriptions started for them in 2018. She states that the strongest riving factors that led to readers becoming subscribers was the quality of journalism they provided. She expresses that she is optimistic that viewers will be willing to further support quality journalism in the coming years.
5:42
Dhanya states that she agrees with Supriya and that they themselves had only recently started memberships. She then raises two concerns by saying that she still believes that only a small pool of people like to pay for news. She states the need for that small pool to be increased  and adds that paying for so many different was not sustainable for readers.
5:44
Manisha says, "Most people do not understand reporting costs. They do not understand the associates costs." She adds that a smaller pool while good enough for individuals news organizations won't work in bigger places like Times of India.
5:46
5:47
Sashikumar then states that brand loyalty no longer exists and with the news becoming free there is a higher chance of misinformation. He adds that this is where paid subscriptions play a role in adding legitimacy and in bringing authentic news.
5:51
Rasmus then compares the New York Times and the Guardians forms of subscription. He states that while the New York Times model shows that people are willing to pay on commercial grounds the Guardian's decision is grounded in their view of journalism. He also adds that it is important for consumers to remember that news organizations function thanks to subscriptions.
Do you think print media is more reliable than digital media?
Yes (0% | 0 votes)
 
No (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 0
5:52
Rasmus ends the panel by stating that he is still optimistic about the future of journalism.
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