When I first started as a photo staffer for The LaSallian back in 2015 – a mere decade ago – readers were already satisfied with static images and illustrations to supplement news reports on social media. Today, with the rise of short-form video platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, audiences have overwhelmingly shifted to digital platforms to consume news and the demand for content has greatly pivoted to video form. However, creating news report in video format is no simple task. News organizations now must ensure their videos are not only informative, but also algorithmically captivating and strategically engineered for the click.
Amid this relentless cycle of change, it has been delightful to see The LaSallian evolve, striving to adapt by introducing an Intermedia section and expanding its online presence, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yet, this shift to video is not the greatest challenge news organizations face. The true crisis runs deeper.
Student publications like The LaSallian benefit from a steady funding model, a stark contrast to the precarious financial state of most professional media. Globally, news organizations have relied on advertising revenue and pay walls, however, their income has greatly plummeted in the ever-changing digital landscape. In the desperate scramble for clicks and engagement, the imperative is often replaced by the impulse to sensationalize resulting to the promotion of polarizing and divisive content, the rush to publish unverified reports, and the rampant growth of fake news.
The most alarming consequence of surviving the algorithm-driven media is the loss or continuing decline of basic humanity in reporting. Countless times, I have seen news organizations nonchalantly show dead bodies in photos or videos with only minimal blurring. This commodification and exploitation of tragedy for clicks and engagement does not only desensitize the audience, but it also actively dehumanizes the victims and their families, treating distressing moments of human suffering as mere content to be consumed for a few minutes and eventually forgotten. Although, some may argue that showing dead bodies in photojournalism is essential as it provides necessary context and provokes emotions from the audience that is essential to connect with the story. Seeing these negative realities can help us open our eyes to the atrocities and crimes against humanity, But how does this affect our mental health in the long run? Can we consume too much of these that we become numb to it?
Another growing worry I have on the future of news media is the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI). I would often find myself scrolling in social media and coming across AI- generated videos which would quickly evoke an emotion out of me, whether it be a positive or negative reaction without even realizing that the content I have just consumed was fake all along. With the technology greatly improving by the minute, how will we distinguish which ones are real and not anymore? Not only can AI generate realistic content within seconds, but it can greatly fabricate reality further worsening the spread of misinformation and resulting into a greater divide within our society.
If the current digital landscape has already strained our ethical foundations, then the uncharted territory of AI threatens to shatter them entirely. As we enter this era, news organizations will have to navigate a new set of unforeseen challenges. But a fundamental question remains: In our navigation of this digital-and-now AI-driven- landscape, how do we ensure we do not lose what little humanity we have left? The thin line between reporting and exploitation is already being challenged.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This is an unedited submission from a former executive editor of The LaSallian, reflecting on the declining humanity in reportage. The article also mentions the rise of sensationalism and generative AI content that worsens the divide in our society.
Thea Clarise S. Tagulao served as the Associate Editor of The LaSallian in A.Y. 2017-2018 and Photo Editor for News & Features in A.Y. 2016-2017.
She graduated from De La Salle University with a degree in Advertising Management.
She later earned her master degree in Business Administration from the University of Saint Joseph-Macau, and is currently a PhD candidate in Business Administration with her research focusing on change management.
She also works in the integrated resort industry with a focus on business process improvement. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling and exploring new restaurants.
