The Future of Food Journalism and Food Media

Slides from the final class of my recent Food Journalism in France program: https://geo.uoregon.edu/programs/europe-france/food-journalism-france

In this deck, I outline parallels between the challenges that the food and journalism industries face, as well as 11 strategic challenges faced by food journalism and some potential solutions to them.

Much of the discussion is focused on tackling questions of inequity in both the stories told, and who gets to tell them.

I also challenged my University of Oregon students to think about whether in doing this, as well as addressing issues of climate change, etc., we should also encourage journalism to take on more of a role in pushing for policy changes.

Journalism has always played a campaigning role, either explicitly or implicitly. Yet, some feel this is at odds with traditional journalistic values. I disagree. And, perhaps not surprisingly, so do my University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication students...

When it comes to these types of issues, there's a duty to inform, educate and entertain. But to this Reithian mantra, should we also be arguing for the role of journalism in helping to reduce inequities, promote sustainability, advocate for greater animal welfare, and doing more to provide communities with the tools and solutions they need to tackle some of the biggest issues of the day?

#media #journalism #food #foodjournalism #education

1. Where next for food
journalism and food media?
Damian Radcliffe
July 2024

2. A period of change for all
The food and journalism industries are BOTH
undergoing significant transformations due to
technological advancements, changing consumer
preferences, and sustainability concerns.
Journalism and food media play crucial roles in
shaping public perceptions, trends, and policies
related to food.
This presentation will explore the challenges facing
food journalism and media, and propose some
potential solutions to address these challenges.

3. The Future of Food
Key Trends include:
1.Sustainable Practices
1.Increased focus on reducing food waste and
promoting sustainable agriculture.
2.Rise of plant-based and lab-grown meat/products.
3.Address the on-going impact of climate change.
2.Technological Innovations
1.Role of mechanization, AI and IoT.
2.Advances in food preservation and packaging.
3.Consumer Preferences
1.Demand for transparency in food sourcing and
quality (e.g. labeling here in France).
2.Growth of organic and other health -and morally -
conscious food choices.

4. The Future
of Media and
Journalism
Key Trends include:
1.Broken business and revenue models
1.Increased need to diversify revenues and move
away from reliance on advertising. (And print.)
2.Need to transform business practices.
2.Technological Innovations
1.Emergence of new digital-born players.
2.AI kills search, cuts newsroom jobs etc.
3.Consumer Preferences
1.Wider (or more narrow) media diets.
2.Shorter attention spans.
3.Digital preferences

5. Some things for food media to consider
Tie in’s across groups (e.g. Delish and Hearst)
Food as a gateway to other products (e.g. NYT)
Relationships with the Creator Economy
Challenge of distinctiveness and differentiation
Making it pay –paywalls essential… why stay and NOT go elsewhere?

6. 11 essential
problems for food
journalists and
food media to get
their teeth into

7. 1. Misinformation
and Trust Issues
•Problem:Proliferation of false
information and
sensationalism undermines
public trust.
•Impact:Consumers struggle
to find reliable sources of
information, leading to
confusion and choices. (Not just
about food.)
•Solutions: Transparency re
reporting, fact-checking etc.

8. Via: Center for Media Engagement
The University of Texas at Austin

9. 2. Economic Pressures
•Problem: Declining revenues for
traditional media outlets.
•Impact: Reduced resources for
journalism and in-depth reporting.
•Solutions: Drive subscriptions
through more distinctive content.
Innovations such as events,
memberships and so on.

10. Example: Men’s Health Food
Delivery Service
Teamed up with MunchFit – food providers toBarry’s
BootcampandEquinox– to create a new meal delivery
service.

12. 3. Diversity and Inclusion
Problem: Lack of diverse voices and
perspectives in food journalism.
Impact: Underrepresentation of different
cultures and cuisines, leading to a narrow view
of food narratives
Solutions: Actively seek and promote diverse
voices and stories e.g. create platforms and
opportunities for underrepresented groups to
share their food stories and traditions. Report on
successes and highlight failings

13. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/dining/bl
ack-women-fine-dining-restaurant-kitchens.html

14. 4. Digital Transformation
•Problem: Rapid shift to digital platforms with
varying quality of content.
•Impact: Challenges in maintaining quality
and depth of reporting in the face of the
demand for quick, clickable content.
•Solutions: Invest in multimedia storytelling
and interactive content. Partner with content
creators and more diverse voices.

15. Failure to adapt means you might get left behind…

17. 5. Ethical Considerations
•Problem: Balancing commercial
interests with journalistic integrity.
•Impact: Potential conflicts of interest
and biases in food reporting.
•Solution: Develop and adhere to clear
ethical guidelines. More clearly
disclose sponsorships and affiliations,
and prioritize editorial independence.

18. Other factors and
considerations

19. 6. Consumer Education and Engagement
Problem: Low consumer awareness about food production and
nutrition.
Impact: Misconceptions and poor dietary choices. Wider
impacts not understood.
Solution: Enhance consumer education through informative
content and interactive platforms.
Example: Create educational campaigns and resources that
explain food sourcing, nutrition facts, and sustainable practices.

20. 7. Collaboration with
Experts and Institutions
•Problem: Need for authoritative and
comprehensive reporting on
complex food issues.
•Impact: Incomplete or biased
reporting.
•Solution: Partner more with experts,
universities, and research
institutions e.g. in-depth analysis
and insights into food-related topics.

21. 8. Leveraging Data Analytics

22. 9. Community Building and
User-Generated Content
•Problem: Limited engagement w/ audiences.
•Impact: Reduced loyalty and interaction.
•Solution: Foster community engagement and
encourage user-generated content e.g. forums,
social media groups, and interactive events.

23. 10. Innovation in
Storytelling Techniques
•Problem: Traditional storytelling methods may
not fully engage modern audiences.
•Impact: Lower audience retention and impact.
•Solution: Experiment with new storytelling
formats and technologies. Short form video,
virtual events, VR and AR. Lean into audio.
What about Solutions Journalism?

24. 11. Policy and Advocacy
•Problem: Inadequate coverage of food
policy and its impact.
•Impact: Lack of public awareness and
engagement in food policy issues.
•Solution: Increase focus on food policy
reporting and advocate for changes that
promote sustainability and public health,
as well as address issues related to climate
change and other topics (e.g. pay).

25. Conclusion

26. TlDR
•The future of food journalism and
media is shaped by significant
challenges and opportunities.
•Addressing misinformation, economic
pressures, diversity, digital
transformation, and ethical
considerations is crucial for the
industry's evolution and long-term
sustainability.

27. Moving Forward
•Media organizations, journalists, and consumers must work
together to foster a trustworthy, inclusive, and innovative food
media landscape.
•This must be diverse, accurate, and showcase a spectrum of
issues and angles.
•There is potential for food journalism and food media to drive
positive change in the food industry and society.
•But for this to be unlocked requires innovation, collaboration,
a commitment to ethical standards, and willingness to do
things differently.

28. What do
you
think?
What changes would you like
to see?
Who’s doing this well?
What would you like to see
more of?