With the rapid rise of AI generated content, online misinformation and disinformation, the value of credible news increases. 

Misleading digital campaigns create deception and consequently result in erosion of trust on media and democratic institutions. If we want to safeguard and strengthen democratic conversation, we need to reinforce the role of quality journalism by supporting media resilience.

Long gone are the days when everyone was informed about all the latest news from tv shows, print newspapers or even news websites. For the past decades we have seen a major transition in the media landscape with the emergence of social media platforms and AI tools playing a vital role in informing the public.

Traditional media are considered now too slow or institutional for the social media and algorithmic age. However, with the explosion of AI-generated content, online misinformation, disinformation campaigns and digital deceit, is traditional media the last line of defence for a healthy democratic conversation?

One could say that we are now navigating a decisive era when it comes to media and communications systems. Being working for the past years as a communications professional at the heart of the EU decision making, monitoring the shifts in audience’s trust in the media but also in the institutions, I would argue that the value of traditional media, given the current challenges in the information sphere, is not only increasing but is becoming more and more vital for all democratic societies.