According to the UN 3.7 billion voters in 72 countries are going to or have been to the polls in 2024.
That makes it the biggest election year in human history. Just think of it – a half the world’s population voting. Many for the first time. But I think it’s also safe to say that trust in democracy is at its lowest for some time. Perhaps the lowest ever.
People say they don’t trust politicians.
People say they don’t trust the journalists who report on politicians.
They don’t trust the news.
They don’t watch the news.
They don’t listen to the news.
They don’t read the news.
They’ve become less engaged if not disengaged.
So this feels like a really important webinar. A chance to discuss why trust and engagement with audiences has fallen. And, crucially, how to build it.
Heck democracy depends on it!
So to our guests: Victoria Steveley, deputy chief audience editor at the Belfast Telegraph.Pip Tomson most recently with ITV’s Good Morning Britain and GB News – the latter where the line between journalists and politicians has been especially blurred. Daniel Mollitor, business editor at the German Press Agency DPA and Naomi Owusu co-founder and CEO at Tickaroo the live blogging platform which is helping taking online journalism to new and hopefully more trusted levels.