#journalism-reform

#journalism-reform

Earlier this week, I detailed how journalism lost its ability to set the terms of public reality—dismantled not by its own failures, but by algorithmic systems that reward emotional intensity over accuracy and affirmation over verification. Editorial judgment, imperfect yet guided by civic purpose, has been replaced by engagement-optimized algorithms. The result is fragmentation severe enough to undermine shared reality itself—or worse, to convince us objective truth no longer exists.

In 2026, my prediction (and hope) is that the outlets that matter most to democracy move away from reflexive "gotcha" coverage of politicians and toward a practice that centers voters' lived experience, allows idealism back into the frame, and treats accountability as something deeper than a takedown. Learning to see through voters' eyes At least twice in my career, I have had to cover the unexpected rise of an Indian male politician.