Great journalism stops us in our tracks. Beyond simply informing us of facts and events we may or may not have been familiar with, like all stories it can elicit strong emotional reactions, making us feel angry, terrified, grateful, hopeless, or ecstatic. At its best, journalism forces us to think and re-think.
Gathering together this week’s collection of media highlights, I had cause once again to consider how fortunate we are to be able to access readily such a rich and varied online library of reporting, insight, analysis, opinion, and debate.
This week’s opening piece below is a case in point. The Financial Times spent five years investigating a billion-dollar fraud at Wirecard, overcoming all manner of hurdles and nefarious interventions along the way. In an age in which fewer and fewer media outlets have the resources to persist with such an expensive and expansive investigation, it is a timely reminder of the value of this kind of forensic journalism and an independent press undeterred by sustained corporate intimidation.
The second pick is a brilliant piece of opinion writing that forced me to pause, reflect and evaluate my own cosy assumptions and outlook on life.
Our democracy is stronger for the reporting and analysis carried out by the media on our behalf – often without our knowledge or appreciation – each day, that we might better understand the complex world we inhabit and the injustices that exist within it.
Have a great weekend.