Sumi Aggarwal

We’ve been serving the wrong audience “Some news organizations will realize the trust crisis and the business model crisis are the same thing.” -e-ve-been-serving-the-wrong-audience The Olivia Nuzzi/RFK Jr. and Michael Wolff/Jeffrey Epstein scandals weren’t just breaches of journalism ethics — they were a mirror held up to something most of us already know, but don’t want to admit: We’ve gotten too close to the people we cover. I get how it happens.

As a lifelong journalist, it’s been disheartening to watch the election and its aftermath. Like many readers, I’ve always believed that if you just show the audience the truth or if you uncover wrongdoing, people will act and demand change. But I’ve spent the last few weeks questioning my vocation. The divided news ecosystem originated decades ago. But this year’s election brought into stark public view just how divided we really are.

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found recently that more people turn to social media platforms for news than news websites. For many journalists, this sounds like yet another dire blow to the industry. But it could also be an opportunity — if we take it. For me, investigative reporting serves the highest ideals of journalism. It appeals to my belief that if you shed light on an injustice, you can make a difference.