In the age of disinformation, polarisation and AI, the public must win

Credible newsrooms remain vital to countering fake news, fostering social cohesion and holding power to account. For The Straits Times, the path forward lies in public service journalism rooted in community impact, trust, and dialogue.

- Jaime Ho

Globally, it is a grim time for journalism. As we mark World News Day 2025 - and also the 180th anniversary of The Straits Times - we find ourselves staring down the barrel of disheartening data.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that 2024 was the deadliest year for journalists in its recorded history, with 124 reporters killed worldwide. The conflict in Gaza has been particularly devastating - 85 journalists have died in the Israel-Hamas war.

At least 361 journalists were also imprisoned globally, the second-highest number on record, according to CPJ's prison census in 2024.

Every statistic is a life, an individual, a journalist who has paid a high price while gathering facts, pursuing the truth and informing the public.

In these dangerous times, these stories by, and of, our fellow journalists become even more vital. They deserve our communities’ fullest support.

Beyond conflict zones, the world is also facing a profound crisis of information, trust and polarisation. And it trickles into our everyday lives.

The rapid changes to the world reflect significant shifts not only to the rules and norms that govern relations between countries, but also within countries - our societies, our communities, our friends and neighbours, and the way we interact with one another.

The proliferation of fake news, deepfakes, and AI-generated visuals that can make people appear to say or do things they never did presents troubling problems in this age of disinformation.

Often, we find ourselves asking while doomscrolling: Is this real? Can I trust what I'm seeing? Is there a hidden agenda here, and if so, whose?