Good As News: The hidden news crisis and how it affects you

Does journalism still matter in a world now shaped by AI summaries and endless scrolling? Where do long-form investigations find space in an attention economy built for speed? And at a time when facts are critical to democracy, how can newsrooms cut through noise and algorithmic bias?

These are the questions at the heart of Good As News, a new podcast launched by a coalition of independent newsrooms in Southeast Asia.

The series brings together journalists and newsroom leaders from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, among others, to reflect on the pressures facing the industry today – from shrinking attention spans to the rise of generative AI, and the urgent need for collaboration to keep journalism alive and trusted.

Watch the first episode, “The Hidden News Crisis and How It Affects You,” and catch succeeding episodes on Rappler’s YouTube channel. 

The pilot episode is moderated by Rappler’s head of community Pia Ranada and features Rappler’s executive editor Glenda M. Gloria, Malaysiakini’s head of operations, Tham Seen Hau, from Malaysia; and Tempo Digital’s CEO, Wahyu Dhyatmika, from Indonesia.

Big Tech and the case for collaboration

As artificial intelligence continues to scale, so does its reliance on journalism.

“The AI you use gets smarter because of the quality journalism newsrooms produce. Ultimately, AI platforms will have to compensate journalists,” said Tham Seen Hau, pointing to the growing need for accountability and collaboration between tech platforms and the media.

The conversation underscores a central tension of the moment: as technology reshapes how information is created and consumed, the survival of independent journalism depends not just on adaptation, but on collective action.

What challenges do you think journalism should confront next? Watch the episode, share your thoughts in the comments, and suggest topics for future discussions. – Rappler.com

Help sustain reporting that informs, investigates, and holds power to account. Become a Rappler+ member today: rappler.com/plus