Journalism isn't math. When you write an article, there are several unknowns in the equation: you don’t know the outcome or the consequences of the article once it’s published. In journalistic jargon, we’d rather use the term “impact.” From unusual stories to investigative reports, journalism sometimes has an impact on more than one person.
Journalist Affected
Arnaud Wéry quickly realized the impact of his article on Napoleon’s troops, published on the Belgian news site L’Avenir. In this incredible story, his first article caught readers’ attention and sparked their interest; some even contacted the National Archives. Between stolen archives and a police investigation, this is a good example of the impact his work had, as it helped move the case forward. A double impact, then—for readers and for the course of the investigation. What about you—have you ever published this kind of story?
Pillar Number 3
Keeping a media outlet afloat over the long term is a daily challenge for all entrepreneurs in the industry. Drawing on the example of Bklyner, an American media outlet that unfortunately went out of business, Lion Publisher shares its theory on how to ensure the long-term survival of an independent media outlet. And this rests on three pillars: operational resilience, financial health, and journalistic impact. Here, impact serves primarily to ensure that the outlet does not lose the support of its readers and investors.
The Impact of Trust
Journalism is about making a difference and covering the issues around us. But how do we measure the impact of our articles and their lasting effect? Médiacités has published its 2021 impact report. An interesting fact: the team received help from its readers. For its part, StreetPress took stock at the end of last year, using the opportunity to update its audience on the follow-up to published investigations and to discuss ongoing projects.
