Matthew Report
By Vishwa Parmar | Matthew staff
“Do I understand people who are not like me?”—a simple question that echoed in numerous sessions at the International Journalism Festival this year captures the essence of what journalism must aim to do in 2025 and beyond. It was a quiet provocation. A call to journalists and storytellers to lean in, listen deeper, and resist the noise of echo chambers.
Journalism as Activism: Reclaiming Truth, Trust, and Community
In an age where misinformation spreads faster than facts, and where neutrality is sometimes a cover for complicity, journalism is being asked to redefine itself—and this year’s festival didn’t shy away from the uncomfortable conversations. Across panel discussions, conversations with reporters on the ground, and reflections from seasoned editors, one lesson was clear: good journalism is and always has been a public service.
What emerged was a simple truth: journalism isn’t broken. But it is being broken by power, profit, and propaganda.
Journalism or Activism?
One of the dominant themes was the weaponization of activism. Multiple speakers emphasized how journalists who expose injustice are often labeled activists in a derogatory sense meant to discredit their work. But perhaps, as several journalists pointed out, it’s time to reclaim the term.
Activism, when rooted in truth, fact-based reporting, and human dignity, is simply journalism with a conscience. “Impact begins as activism,” a panelist said. And maybe that’s the whole point—not to be a stenographer for power, but to ask difficult questions, amplify the voices of the unheard, and help readers see the world as it truly is, not just how the powerful want it seen.
The Myth of Objectivity is Hurting Us
Objectivity has long been the holy grail of journalism. But that ideal is cracking under pressure. Because when truth itself is politicized, pretending to be neutral just means staying silent in the face of injustice. Panelists discussed the myth of objectivity—how it is often used to demand neutrality in the face of injustice. “How unbiased can a journalist be?” was a recurring question. The consensus: journalists should aim for fairness, not false balance.
And who benefits from that silence?
This is especially relevant in the context of global injustices—from the Russia-Ukraine war to the ongoing occupation and genocide in Palestine by Israel’s government. The hypocrisy in international accountability, particularly the selective outrage from institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC), was sharply criticized. How can we trust global systems of justice when Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is welcomed by Western states, even as his actions in Gaza continue to draw allegations of war crimes?
There is no neutral language for a burning house.
The Collapse of Local News: The Lost Pulse of Democracy
While the global news cycle spins around trauma and spectacle, local journalism is bleeding out quietly. And with it, the most direct link between people and power. A shared concern across discussions was the erosion of local journalism. Without trusted local sources, people are left adrift in a sea of big, national and often polarizing stories, disconnected from what they can actually act upon.
Speakers at the festival brought attention to this widening gap: although individuals are concerned about events in their communities, they are inundated with news that seems too distant and overwhelming to address. Rebuilding local trust and engagement is crucial, according to speakers, not only for media but also for democracy in general.
“People are tired of consuming news that makes them feel powerless,” one editor said.
The antidote? Rebuild newsrooms from the ground up, re-center stories around communities, and focus on “cohesion journalism”—a term some speakers used to describe journalism that not only informs, but connects.
Journalism in the Age of Algorithmic Discrimination
Meta. Google. The endless feed.
Technology, once the promise of democratized information, is now part of the problem.
Panelists didn’t hold back on the role tech giants play in shaping what people believe. Algorithmic racism, data manipulation, and invisible bias are now baked into the platforms we rely on every day.
Misinformation is harder to track, but not impossible. “If we can go to Mars, we can find where a tweet came from,” one participant quipped. The real barrier isn’t technical, it’s political and deeply intertwined with power, race, and profit. The internet doesn’t just reflect the real world, it amplifies its inequalities. If these platforms are now the frontlines of modern discourse, they need to be held accountable—not worshipped as neutral.
Journalism as Public Service—Not Product
One speaker said it plainly: “There used to be shame in lying. Now it’s just part of the game.”
The line between public good and profit is blurrier than ever. But journalism has to choose sides. If not for moral reasons, then at least for survival. Because trust—not clicks—is the real currency of the future.
There is power in stories rooted in love, justice, and local reality. There is power in listening to normal people. There is even power in serving the community because it makes sense for business.
Do what you need to do—but do it with intention. Do it with truth. Do it with people in mind.
Journalism with Impact: Asking the Right Questions
The festival did not end on a pessimistic note. On the contrary, it brought to everyone’s attention the reasons behind their actions. There was a clear call to action: journalism needs to be grounded in empathy, accountability, and community.
In addition to covering the news, journalists also need to evaluate the story’s impact. They must ask: Who does this story affect? How will the public respond? Will this story change anything?
The International Journalism Festival in Perugia is an event for a journalistic global community since 2006. Every April, media professionals, academics, journalists, and students come together to share stories, stimulate change, and exchange ideas in the Roman and medieval city of Perugia.
As of early February, the festival had announced over 400 speakers with the list growing. All sessions are free to attend with no registration required; they are live-streamed with on-demand access and available immediately after. Over the five-day event, sessions in English took place primarily on April 10 to April 12, with the final day dedicated exclusively to discussions in Italian.
This year, seven students attended the festival as a JCU delegation from April 10 to April 13, including members of The Matthew Board, journalism students from the Communications and Media Studies Department, and English and Literature majors.
Members of The Matthew and other JCU interested students have the opportunity to apply every year for accommodation and transport to Perugia and Ferrara journalism festivals, as part of the Student Services Leadership Program directed by Associate Dean of Student Engagement, Pilar Murguia, and organized by Assistant Director Federica Bocco, who chaperones these annual trips since 2021. Facilitated by Communications and Media Studies Professor Elizabeth Macias-Gutierrez, selected applicants attend as an opportunity to learn more about critical journalism and its practical skills.
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