Davos 2016: Journalism’s Future Seen in Constructive News

Third edition from InnoVatio Challenges Traditional Paradigms to Improve the Media

January 23, 2016. Davos. – Conventional media wisdom may say “if it bleeds, it leads,” but at the World Economic Forum Ulrik Haagerup, Executive Director of News at the Danish Broadcasting Company argued that constructive news, which focuses not just on problems but solutions, can help increase media audiences while also creating a positive impact on society and problem solving.

Haagerup was joined at Media Tenor International’s Reputation Lab at the World Economic Forum in Davos to talk about the implementation of constructive news philosophies around the world by Roland Schatz (CEO and founder, Media Tenor International), Peter John Mahrenholz (Managing Director, Berlin Strategy Lab), and Matthias Vollbracht (Managing Director, Awareness Metrics).

Haagerup emphasized that “News used to be about yesterday, but with new technologies, now the news is about now. But good journalism should also be about tomorrow."

Mahrenholz noted the role of brands in media, explaining that “brands represent shared perceptions, and therefore need to communicate through media” in order to develop those perceptions. Vollbracht reminded panel attendees that transparency is a key part of meaningful communication.

Schatz agreed, noting that “the purpose of the lab [was] to look forward, not backwards,” but concerns about the impact of social media on the definition of journalism were discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of journalist standards in order to provide content that is relevant and useful to individuals, companies, and societies.  “Technology may change, but the basic standards on how to communicate transparently and verifiably don’t,” Schatz said. “Journalists must be trained to ask the right questions and report the whole picture.”

For over 20 years Media Tenor's mission has been to contribute to objective, diverse, and newsworthy media content by bringing together the diverse parties. Media Tenor's global research projects include analyses of election campaigns, investor relations, public diplomacy, corporate communications and other topics critical to news makers and news audiences.

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