Journalism needs to renew its message and transform its methods!

This keeps us awake at night—and it should keep you awake too:

Journalism must renew its message and evolve its methods. Instead of emphasizing our own societal importance, journalists should foreground the fascination of great storytelling.

Arguments like "journalism is essential for democracy" or "it's a calling" have failed to create meaningful connection for years. Two decades of research reveal troubling trends:

Trust in independent media is eroding, audiences are fragmenting, and people increasingly rely on personal brands rather than newsrooms. Young people are avoiding the profession, newsrooms are shrinking, sustainable funding models remain elusive. AI technology is accelerating these developments.

The necessary transformation won't happen spontaneously.

New learning methodologies and continuous skill development capabilities are crucial.

Change must begin in journalism education and become integral to the industry's identity.

External expertise is indispensable - the media industry and educators show resistance to constructive self-criticism.

Cognitive dissonance and the glorification of our own achievements block meaningful change.

This declining ability to connect with society affects not only journalism but also political parties, associations, and civic engagement broadly.

We're convinced that a viable path forward lies in developing journalism into a solution-based information workshop: creating data-driven stories that people experience as informative, compelling, and useful.

Journalism education must work far more extensively with problem-/solution-based, interdisciplinary approaches to provide young people with broad, versatile communication competencies

Technological excellence, data literacy, global knowledge, and critical reflection skills are key.

Action is required immediately.