For our final Futures Forum of the year, we brought together young adults from IN/LAB projects throughout 2024 and journalists from Aftonbladet, Svenska Dagbladet, and Omni. Together, they explored critical questions such as: Should news media simplify news delivery to make it more accessible? And what role should news organizations play in helping people navigate misinformation online? Below, we share key insights from these conversations, centered around three conceptual prototypes.
The discussions at this Future Forum were based on the output of IN/LAB's recent Trust Sprint. To learn more about the conceptual prototypes and the project behind their development, click here!
Daily Dose: What if a news service only shared one story per day?
Discussion question: Do you think news media should present one news story per day that they believe you should pay particular attention to?
Potential issues: There’s a risk of subjectivity in choosing the story, which could lead to perceptions of bias, conflicts of interest, or political agendas. Who determines what the “one story” should be, and based on what criteria?
Why it can still be useful: For those who feel overwhelmed by the volume of news or disengaged from traditional formats, a single, curated story offers a simple, manageable way to stay informed.
Ideas to explore further: Offering a personalized summary of yesterday’s news could include multiple perspectives, ensuring the selection feels balanced and relevant to different audiences.
News Mixer: What if social media and editorial content was blended in a single product?
Discussion question: Do you think news media should include both news stories and news-related content from social media, e.g., content from news influencers?
Potential issues: There’s a risk of compromising journalistic integrity. Who is responsible for influencer-generated content included in editorial products – the influencers themselves or the news media?
Why it can be useful: Young people increasingly get their news through platforms like TikTok and from ‘news influencers.’ Integrating this approach allows news media to combine editorial credibility with modern news consumption habits.
Ideas to explore further: Develop in-house news influencers within media organizations to maintain control over content, ensuring both accuracy and credibility while reaching younger audiences.
Factbuoy: What if an editorial AI-assistant that helped users verify the authenticity of information on the internet?
Discussion question: Do you think news media have a responsibility to help people understand what constitutes reliable information beyond their own news service?
Potential issues: Some argue that fact-checking while on the internet is an individual responsibility, not a task for media organizations. Additionally, journalism isn’t just about verifying facts – it’s also about providing context and interpretation. A tool like this could oversimplify complex stories into binary "true/false" assessments.
Why it can be useful: Factbuoy supports journalism’s role in combating misinformation while encouraging critical thinking habits. It makes fact-checking more accessible and modern, particularly for young audiences who increasingly expect real-time verification tools.
Ideas to explore further: Develop an educational version of Factbuoy for schools and communities to promote media literacy and source criticism, serving as an "analog Factbuoy."
Thanks to everyone being part of these discussions! We truly value your perspectives on the possible futures of news.
