Fake news, trust, and the future of journalism

At a time when more Australians are turning to TikTok and other social media platforms for news, questions of truth, trust, and accountability in journalism took centre stage at last night’s UniSQ Thought Leadership Series event in Brisbane.

Titled Fake News and the Fourth Estate, the panel brought together some of the nation’s most respected media voices to discuss how digital disruption is reshaping journalism and its role in democracy.

Moderated by ABC’s David Iliffe, the discussion featured Cathie Schnitzerling, Executive Producer of Landline and UniSQ alumnus; David Fagan, author, former Courier-Mail editor and UniSQ alumnus; Dr Kate Cantrell, UniSQ senior lecturer and media scholar; and Taylah Mahony, a UniSQ journalism and science student.

Cathie Schnitzerling spoke about the responsibility of newsrooms to maintain accuracy and integrity, the issue of social media echo chambers, and shared her optimism for the next generation of journalists entering the field.

David Fagan highlighted the link between trust and democracy, the disruptive impact of digital media on traditional news models, and the need to sustain quality investigative reporting.

Dr Kate Cantrell examined the power of storytelling, the role of education and media literacy in helping audiences navigate information, and the ethical challenges of new media formats.

Taylah Mahony offered the next-generation perspective, reflecting on how young people access news through social media, the challenges of distinguishing fact from misinformation, and the opportunities and responsibilities facing emerging journalists.

David Iliffe guided the conversation expertly, leading the panel through topics ranging from fake news and citizen journalism to the future of media in a democratic society.

One of the event’s key takeaways was the urgent need to teach media literacy, ensuring communities and future generations are equipped to discern truth from misinformation in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Missed it this time? Watch the event recording.