Google VP: Addressing Climate Change, Media Adaptation Key for Journalists

Google’s Vice President of News, Richard Gingras, has expressed concern about how journalists’ approach and communicate climate change to society, noting that the internet has turned every home into a virtual printing press.

During his speech at the West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference, themed “Accountability Journalism: Innovation, a Sustainable Future,” Gingras stressed the importance of informing people without imposing opinions on them.

He emphasized the significance of journalists’ role in addressing personal and societal health issues, urging consideration of diverse voices when dealing with matters of competing societal perspectives.

Gingras further highlighted the impact of adapting to evolving media forms on shaping cultures and norms.

He acknowledged the influence of social media and short-form video in transforming communication and understanding of society.

Gingras cited Kevin Munger’s argument that the forms of human conversation heavily influence the ideas we can conveniently express, which subsequently become essential content within a culture.

While acknowledging that media platforms like TikTok are sources of journalistic expression, he did not claim they are the future of journalism.

Nonetheless, Gingras emphasized the need for journalists to adapt to the language constructs of our time to effectively engage with audiences and convey information in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape.