Arianna Huffington, November 2009

Huffington met with IC students for a lively Q & A session on the future of journalism. The Huffington Post co-founder spoke of “a golden age for news consumers,” with bright prospects for young journalists despite an uncertain future for print newspapers. She also did a public lecture as 2009 Park Distinguished Visitor on “The Modern Journalism Paradox: The Best of Times Amidst the Worst of Times.” PCIM cosponsored her visit.

Huffington criticized mainstream journalism for largely missing the two big stories of the era: the Iraq invasion and the financial meltdown. She pointed toward a “hybrid future” where traditional media embrace the strengths of online media – “transparency, interactivity, and immediacy” – while new outlets adopt the best practices of old media: fairness, accuracy, high-impact investigative journalism.

MEDIA COVERAGE

See Ithacan report.