Raju Narisetti is optimistic about the future of journalism, and his reasons are compelling.
In this discussion on media literacy and the power of sharing information online, Raju encourages us to keep an open mind and explore who is creating the information we’re consuming and how we can share it responsibly.
Raju Narisetti’s current role as Leader of Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company is the latest in a 32-year global career in media and publishing, during which he has created, reimagined and managed major media organizations in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as being on the frontlines of digital transformation challenges and new ventures in the publishing industry.
Raju has worked at The Wall Street Journal, Hindustan Times/Mint, The Washington Post, News Corp, Univision/Gizmodo Media Group and Columbia Journalism School. He was an essential part of the team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for 9/11 coverage.
How do we use media to open gates and empower others?
Raju queries that rather than acting as gatekeepers for information, journalists should act in a role as a gate-opener, helping consumers navigate the sea of overwhelming information in this digital era. He gives suggestions for how publications can improve their click rates while empowering consumers.
Why is media literacy important?
Media literacy is the ability to interpret and understand written material…and how we discern the intentions of the writer.
Raju talks in detail about how understanding where a piece of content is sourced from should influence how we should share it online. Before you share, ask yourself…who wrote this, and why? Raju discusses his belief that an emphasis on increased media literacy will shape the future of information sharing.
Quotes
“Our role as journalists should be as gate-openers. People say, ‘this person is helping me navigate the sea of information. I trust them.’ That is what brings people back to you!”
“I’m one of those people who remains very optimistic about journalism in 2022. People don’t realize, it was only in 2018 or 2019 that half of our planet was finally able to get the internet on a daily basis. The demand for what journalism can produce will be continuously growing.”
“We have struggled to communicate the fact that something is news or opinion.”
“A couple of generations are consuming content without necessarily thinking about where something is coming from, whether it’s the Washington Post or Daily Mail. Teaching young people about the value of sourcing is something the journalism industry forgot to do for many years, and now we’re figuring out how to regain that.”
Links mentioned in this episode:

Podcast Resources
You can see the MicKinsey and Company website at https://www.mckinsey.com/
Connect with Raju Narisetti on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajunarisetti
You can follow Raju on Twitter at https://twitter.com/raju?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

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