Navigating Media Digitalization and the Growing Issue of Polarization

As I visited various media institutions in Munich, I felt that Munich’s media institutions place the greatest emphasis on the role of information provision among journalism’s various functions. These media outlets deliver a wide range of information to the local community, from local issues and policy changes to topics such as health and music. Just a few days ago, I saw that the headline news of the TZ newspaper at a newsstand featured Munich’s longstanding traditional festival, Kocherball. This example illustrates that the informational role of journalism—as a chronicler of both the joyous and sorrowful events in local communities—serves as a fundamental record of the community’s history.

However, this does not mean that their work is limited to simple information provision. Through the very act of reporting, even pure information dissemination can serve as an oversight of power and contribute to building a healthier society. For instance, the headline in the TZ newspaper I saw covered the distress suffered by local residents due to football matches. Even though the style of TZ’s articles felt relatively lighter compared to those in Merkur, it was notable how, by providing information that the local government had overlooked, the newspaper was engaged in oversight of the administration and advocating for social change. Had this reporting led to changes in local noise policies, it would have represented a substantial contribution to the local community. In media studies, the press is sometimes called the ‘fourth estate’, alongside the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. The kind of public influence and power for change exemplified in reporting like TZ’s provides a concrete understanding of why journalism is seen in this way.

Traditionally, the press maintains a privileged position over the general public in terms of accessing and controlling information. However, due to digitalization, this advantage is gradually eroding. Public can now access a vast amount of information without media gatekeeping. This situation has increased concerns about fake news and social polarization. If, in the past, journalism’s role was mainly to monitor major centers of power, it is now becoming increasingly important for media institutions to counter polarization and foster healthy democratic discourse.

On a personal note, the comment from the SZ journalist that “journalists are not activists” left the deepest impression on me. Many aspiring and beginner journalists say they want to contribute to social values through their reporting. Regardless of the rightness of the social values that journalists serve, we should be wary of individual journalists’ opinions or beliefs influencing their reporting. Unlike those of ordinary individuals, journalists’ perspectives wield public power, which carries a special responsibility. Today’s entry-level journalists already belong to generations raised in a digitized media environment. The SZ journalist’s insight underscores that polarization is no longer just a challenge among audiences, but increasingly a problem for information providers and journalists themselves.

In this context, I believe that the roles of media education and advances in communication science such as AI are more critical than ever in achieving “good journalism.” Beyond just teaching reporting, writing, and editing skills, media education must help journalists develop the capacity to discern what information and approaches will best serve the community, especially as they face floods of tips, feedback, and diverse opinions. Though I’m not yet sure how widely AI is actually implemented in newsrooms, I could see that several organizations in Media Lab Bayern are seriously considering strategies for the wise use of AI. Rather than using AI merely to replace reporting and risk amplifying fake news, or developing algorithms that merely amplify what audiences already want to read,which could worsen polarization, I hope both journalists and readers can use AI to represent a wider range of voices and help moderate polarization within journalism itself.