The work we do as journalists matters

Last week I attended the Revved Up Symposium in Sarasota, Florida. It was an unforgettable experience that reinforced the importance of journalism in the digital age. As the only Canadian in the room, I was honoured to update the participants on our ongoing eight billion dollar lawsuit against Google and Meta, a case that highlights the fight for fair distribution of advertising dollars in a world where tech giants hold power over advertising revenue.

The event began with a meet and greet at the home of the organizers, a stunning property surrounded by palm trees and fountains where guests exchanged stories and ideas. It was a warm and welcoming start to what would become a thought-provoking and inspiring gathering.

The next day was packed with discussions that touched on the biggest challenges facing the media industry. One of the hot topics was artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is reshaping journalism. Speakers talked about the need for ethical guidelines to ensure that creators are properly compensated for their work when AI tools generate content based on existing material. Another conversation focused on the culture of newsrooms and how embracing technology must go hand in hand with preserving journalistic integrity.

I was invited to speak on a panel about the future of newspapers where we tackled the growing problem of misinformation. I spoke about how critical it is to fact-check, think critically and not just believe everything we see on social media. In a time when AI can generate content faster than people can process it, we need to be more vigilant than ever in making sure the information we consume is accurate. AI is a tool that can enhance the industry, but it is only as good as the sources it pulls from. If those sources are flawed, the results will be too.

When it was my turn to discuss my lawsuit, I laid out the details of why it matters. As I spoke, I could feel the energy in the room shift. People were listening. When I finished, the crowd stood and applauded. It was a moment I will never forget. I thought of Buddy and how proud he would have been to see me standing there, fighting for what is right in a room full of my peers from across the United States.

As the symposium wrapped up, several people approached me to ask if I had considered writing a book or stepping into the speaking circuit. The idea had never crossed my mind before, but standing there in that moment I thought, why not. Life has only become more interesting since my boys left home. Maybe this is the time to step forward and embrace what comes next.

Beyond the scheduled panels and speeches, some of the most valuable conversations took place in the informal moments, over coffee breaks, lunches, and late-night discussions. It was in these settings that I connected with fellow publishers who shared their own struggles and triumphs. We exchanged strategies on how to keep local journalism alive in an era where clicks often matter more than quality reporting. The camaraderie in the room reminded me that no matter how small our individual publications may seem, we are part of a larger fight to preserve the integrity of news.

One of the most striking takeaways for me was the realization that the battle for a free and fair press is universal. Whether in Canada, the United States, or anywhere else, journalists are grappling with the same fundamental issues: misinformation, corporate control of media, and the struggle to be heard in an increasingly noisy digital landscape. 

For a woman from a small town running a small newspaper in the grand scheme of things, this event was a reminder that the size of your platform does not determine the impact of your voice. The work we do as journalists matters. The conversations we have about truth, ethics and the future of our industry shape the way the world informs itself. If we do not take a stand, who will? The symposium left me inspired and ready for whatever comes next.