Alaa Elassar

The future of journalism is a mix of innovation and purpose. Let’s talk about storytelling. At its heart, journalism has always been about uncovering truths, amplifying voices, and holding those in power accountable. But the way we tell those stories? That’s been changing and fast. It’s no longer just about getting grammar perfect or imagining a journalist with a pen and a paper cranking out stories. Today’s journalism is shaped by technology, social media platforms, and how audiences consume news. It’s evolved into something far more dynamic and visual. Think about the stories you’ve seen recently. Chances are, they weren’t just words on a page. Maybe it was a beautifully designed data visualization, a gripping podcast, or a vertical video that pulled you in. Perhaps it was stunning drone footage or an interactive feature that let you explore the details yourself. These aren’t just extras. They are the new tools of the trade, revolutionizing how we share and experience the news. That said, the written word isn’t going anywhere. Sometimes, a well-crafted article is still the best way to break down complex issues, deliver quick updates, or tell a powerful story. But here’s the thing: journalism isn’t just about what works best for us as creators. It’s about what resonates with audiences. Look at your own habits. How do you consume news? Maybe you scroll through social media, stop at visuals that catch your eye, or plug into podcasts during your commute. It’s different than it was a decade ago, and that’s why journalists need to adapt. Meeting people where they are, while staying true to the mission of truth-telling, is the real challenge. The future of journalism is about staying curious, being creative, and always putting integrity first. So, here’s something to think about: how can you, as a journalist, make the news more engaging and impactful? How can you create stories that not only inform but also connect with people on a deeper level? The answers to those questions might just shape the next big chapter in journalism and you can be part of it. Why the photo? No connection. It’s just one of my purposes when I climbed the Philippines’ highest peak, Mount Apo. It felt great finding the newly-discovered endemic tropical blueberries.

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So, what's next? We can't move forward after this election, or any big change event, without trying to understand what happened (NB: This post is for nonpartisan journalists who have the professional obligation and personal headspace to document the public's values accurately. If that's not you today, that's okay). I found a note in this morning's "The Daily" useful -- "No party has ever retained the White House when so many voters disapprove of the president and think the country is heading in the wrong direction." More here: https://lnkd.in/e5swnDQT People wanted change. Change toward what? Change from what? We can be honest about a candidate's flaws while remaining curious about voters' motivations. What now? The real work begins: Of holding public officials accountable, of analyzing the money, of tracking promises kept or ignored. This would be true of any administration, but it's certainly true of an administration that promised to deliver dramatic change on the economy, immigration and more. I remain hopeful that local media can rise to the moment. We have to be relentlessly accurate, empathetic and creative. We have to be responsive to local readers' skepticism about the media. I have found Joy Mayer's notes from Trusting News useful as I try to remain focused on what my local audience wants and needs. The conservative media landscape in the US is incredibly well-funded, well-connected and well-coordinated, as Taylor Lorenz noted in her newsletter today. The left-wing ecosystem is well-funded and well-connected, but disjointed, and, to my mind, funadementally out of step. I still believe that nonpartisan media can offer an alternative way forward, independent of party and political allegiances, but newsrooms have to truly listen to audiences and answer questions to have any hope of breaking through. I saw Richard Young post this John Dewey quote: “I am inclined to believe that the heart and final guarantee of democracy is in free gatherings of neighbors on the street corner to discuss back and forth what is read in uncensored news of the day, and in gatherings of friends in the living rooms of houses and apartments to converse freely with one another.”

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I'm publishing two extracts from a draft forthcoming book chapter on investigative journalism and AI. The first part, mapping the various branches of #AI and how they've been used in investigations, is now live...

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Indeed’s definition of a Journalist:   ‘A Journalist, or Reporter, is responsible for researching and writing informational news articles and stories about real events using a fair and unbiased perspective. Their duties include interviewing experts, gathering first-hand accounts of events and organizing an outline into a cohesive, interesting story.’ In 2004, ExpertSources was founded by an ex-journalist himself, Mr Bob Mills who spearheaded this ingenious online platform as a lead in its field for regional, national and international media professionals to quickly and easily find experts in any and every sector imaginable. Journalists, Reporters, Media Professionals, join here FOR FREE https://lnkd.in/gWTuBX5 in less than 20 seconds and start searching with keywords for an expert relevant to your topic at hand. Take advantage of our 20% discount, ending today, we would be thrilled to have you join us as an esteemed and sort after expert member. https://lnkd.in/dbnVv_m www.expertsources.co.uk ‘WHERE JOURNALISTS FIND PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE.’ #Publicity #Media #MediaProfessionals #Journalist #Journalists #MediaExposure #Revenue #PR #PublicRelations #Expert #Experts #Charity #University #Business #Journalism #Editorial #Podcast #Vlog #Magazines #TV #Radio #SocialMedia #ROI #Business #StartUp #Entrepreneur #Success #BusinessSuccess #Revenue #YourDream #Reputation #Journalism Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

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As we wait to hear who won the election, one thing is already clear: election disinformation has reached alarming levels. In the latest episode of Anti-Defamation League's extremely podcast, two experts in the field of disinformation, Dr. Claire Wardle of Cornell University and Scripps News National Correspondent Elizabeth Landers join extremely hosts Oren Segal and Jessica Reaves to break it down. Among the topics they discuss: ·     How the disinformation onslaught of 2024 differs from disinformation waves of past presidential elections ·     The latest AI tools being used to create fake images, video and audio aimed at swaying voters ·     The liar’s dividend—the phenomenon whereby, because disinformation and misinformation are so widespread and more people are unsure about what is and isn’t true, a liar can simply deny that something is real ·     The role of pre-bunking in reducing the spread of election falsehoods and deterring election denialism ·     What social media platforms should be doing to curb disinformation and why they’ve pulled back from doing so Check out the episode here.

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"The film may serve as a global call for this mission even though it directs its focus on this one story. Devi’s tale is powerful and profound for those both in her own country and around the world." Thanks to @JasonGorber for a review of our film. https://lnkd.in/eAebfpCy This film has made me think about our roles are storytellers:  What does telling a story do to the agency of the protagonist?  In places where stories are deliberately buried (in terms of wartime rape, it’s everywhere), whose responsibility is it to tell these stories and where does this responsibility begin or end?  How extensive is the duty of care of filmmakers/storytellers?  And who has the duty of care of independent filmmakers/storytellers? 

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For those interested in the Supreme Court there's some juicy stuff in here regarding Leonard Leo, et al.

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"I’ve spent the past few years reading tweets about articles, not full articles; reading screenshots of the bad part (highlighted); reading only the most outraging detail from a story." The world is a lot right now, which makes it a good time to reconsider your news habits. This blog from Nieman Lab has some good suggestions on where to start [like reconnecting with print!].

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The 2024 ASAJ Conference, aka #ASJACOn24, kicked off yesterday with a keynote by Krishnan Trotman about the importance of taking the uncommon path, and not being afraid to be wrong. Check out the recap to learn more about the day's sessions and join us for day 2. https://lnkd.in/emhKdjME

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From DEI-infused historical figures to woke diverse Nazis, Google Gemini highlighted the issues with biased AI. Nina Schick is one of the world's best at talking honestly about these problems on both sides, and the bizarre future we face. Pls like & share! Watch here: https://lnkd.in/edZeSYyf

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NEWS REPORTING TIP: Finding new story ideas can be a big challenge for reporters and MMJs. There's a lot of advice out there about how to generate story ideas, but there are two things that can be really helpful that most don't utilize enough. 1. FOLLOW UPS: Being diligent about following up on previous stories saved me while working in my first market in a small city. Did you cover a change from city council? Follow up the next day with someone who will be impacted, if you hadn't already. Follow up in a month, three or even six to see how it's going. Did you cover a fire or natural disaster? Make sure you get the phone numbers of the people you meet who were impacted. Mark a note on your calendar to give them a call one month, six months or even a year after to see how they're recovering. Follow-ups make great stories, and often save you time because you already have a direct contact. 2. RECORDS REQUESTS: Some of the best stories come from being curious and putting in a records request. Here's an example. When I worked in Baton Rouge it seemed like many of the times I went downtown for a story the parking meters I pulled up at were busted or broken. I noticed the pattern, put in a records request and found there were 80 busted meters, leading to the city losing out on tons of money. They eventually arrested the guy responsible and installed new meters, which I was able to cover as follow-ups to the original reporting. Here's another recent example from my coworker Khyati Patel. After a plant explosion in Louisville, she put in a records request for the 911 calls. When those came in she was able to do a follow up story with those calls showing what that day was like for so many nearby moments after. There are records available for all kinds of things. Be curious and put in requests frequently. Not every request will turn into a story. However, you'd be surprised how many times I put in a request out of curiosity and found something far more interesting. #tvnews #newsreporter #mmj #journalism #storyideas #newsanchor

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The election betting markets are now taking a victory lap after 'predicting' Trump's win. (And yes, you can bet on who will be the next secretary of Health and Human Services, if that's your thing.) Read my latest here (out of gift links! please subscribe!):

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For NBCU Academy, I recently spoke about the importance of trauma-informed journalism as reporters are increasingly more prone to covering tragic events. Check out the story by Mallory Carra here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ezJ5fsUg

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Ready to dive into the shifting media landscape, and to learn more about how Gen Z thinks about news and where the younger generation gets news. And how news and politics can shape how they relate to brands. #AdAge #GenZ #Media

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