Stephen Salyer

Media and Trust: A Global Concern

Heng Wing Chan, Stephen Salyer, Gerard Baker, Warren Fernandez, Victor Mallet, Maria A. Ressa, Doug Mellinger, Paul Grunewald

Four global journalists analyze the collapse of traditional media trust, attributing the crisis to the weaponization of social media algorithms, the concentration of ad revenue within tech giants, and a lack of ideological diversity within newsrooms. The panel highlights specific regional threats, from state-backed disinformation campaigns in the Philippines and Hong Kong to the revenue model failures that undermine investigative reporting in Singapore. Participants conclude that restoring public confidence requires platform accountability, deeper community engagement, and a renewed commitment to holding power to account despite the current fragmented information landscape.