Anita Li (left) and Yara El Murr

It’s undeniable that the public — especially Gen Zs and millennials — are turning away from the news, whether that’s from a lack of trust or a lack of interest.

Last year, the Reuters Institute found that more and more young people struggle with identifying trustworthy news sources. This comes at a time when creators and influencers eclipse journalists and news organisations online, and as AI seeps into more aspects of content creation, according to the institute’s 2024 Digital News Report.

So how can journalists cut through the noise and gain our audience’s trust?

The first line of defence against mis- and dis-information is hyperlocal publications, which reflect readers’ daily reality in their reporting. Local journalists are uniquely positioned to build a solid foundation of trust by embedding in the communities they report with and for. They’re able to relay factual, tangible information in relatable ways. They’re also best positioned to practice community engagement by seeking out and responding to their audience’s information needs.

But that’s no longer enough. Despite the rise of community-driven journalism over the past decade, news fatigue is real. That’s understandable given the relentless stream of bad news — from climate disasters and genocide to starvation and........

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