Is the newsroom dead?
Have social media platforms succeeded in becoming dynamic newsrooms?
If you noticed a delay in receiving our monthly newsletter, we wanted to explain what happened. Unfortunately, we were locked out of our Substack account, and for a moment, we thought it might be the end. However, after persistently reaching out to customer support, we’re happy to report that we’re back! Thank you for your patience, and we’re excited to continue to be back!
While working to regain access to our account, we’ve been diving into the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024. It’s clear that the traditional newsroom is becoming a thing of the past. Did you hear about the Chicago Tribune building? Now, the Chicago Sun-Times building is being turned into a casino—just saying! As platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram gain traction, they are redefining how news is delivered and consumed, particularly by younger audiences. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024, TikTok is becoming a major news source in countries like Thailand and Kenya, while Instagram remains dominant for visually-driven stories.
These social media platforms have transformed into dynamic newsrooms, delivering quick, engaging content that captures attention in seconds. Their credibility and room for misinformation remains a big concern. At Wishbox Media, we’re embracing this shift, analyzing how TikTok’s bite-sized news videos and Instagram’s visual storytelling are reshaping the landscape.
As digital-first newsrooms rise, we invite you to reflect on your own news consumption habits. Is X or TikTok your go-to for real-time updates (via VPN, since it’s banned in Jordan), or do Instagram’s curated stories captivate you?
This transformation presents an opportunity and challenge for media development as we push the boundaries of storytelling on these platforms. Stay tuned as we explore how these changes are impacting newsrooms worldwide and how we can harness this momentum to reach wider audiences.
Best wishes,
Rana F. Sweis
Founder, Wishbox Media Company
💡 What we've been up to
📸 We’ve just released a compelling photo story featuring Mustafa, a 28-year-old civil engineer with a passion for politics. He is running as part of a political party in this month’s parliamentary elections in Jordan. This photo and audio story delves into his political journey while offering a personal glimpse into his life. In collaboration with the Qarib Program (CFI), we’re excited to bring this unique perspective to our audience.
🎥 We are in the final stages of producing a documentary that tells the inspiring story of one woman’s journey into leadership. Our team is working hard behind the scenes to capture her triumphs, breaking stereotypes and highlighting her impact on society. Supported by the USAID Makanati Project, the documentary will premiere on October 21st at Rainbow Theater. Stay tuned!
🗳️ In collaboration with the French Development Agency and the European Union, we’ve teamed up with civic rights educator Sanad Nowar to hit the streets and ask young people about their knowledge of the upcoming elections. Sanad addresses these important questions in our latest video—don’t miss this insightful discussion!
🏆 As part of our collaboration with the International Center for Journalists, this month, the Content Innovation Fund winners will submit their projects, which include podcasts, YouTube shows, investigative TV reports, data visualizations, photography, and more. We’re excitedly following their progress as they work toward completing their projects.
💡Big news for Wishbox Media: we’ve launched our major marketing and outreach strategy as part of our long-term vision for the company. We’re excited to welcome a new social media team, who will work on bringing this strategy to life by enhancing our presence across platforms and setting the stage for the institution’s growth. We can’t wait to reach our goals.
🎭 We’ve just completed a series of reel videos for our project "Sehes in Jordan, Sehes in Berlin," which highlights culture, art, sports, and dialogue between Germany and Jordan. This video, created in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, features comedian Ahmed Sarour and Sehes the puppet.
📊 We’ve also just launched the first in a series of beautiful infographics designed to present complex data on women’s economic participation in Jordan. Developed in collaboration with the USAID Makanati Project. The series highlights the challenges and opportunities women encounter in the workforce. We’ve faced some backlash on social media, but it reveals just how challenging the environment is for working women. This response reinforces the importance of addressing these issues and sparking dialogue around women's economic participation in Jordan.
🗄️ From the archive
📸 We're revisiting a project where Wishbox Media was awarded the Environment and Climate Change Journalism Scholarship by the French Embassy in Amman. Our photo essay and video reel explore Jordan's largest nature reserve and the controversial copper mining plans. Through stunning visuals, we highlighted the environmental impact while raising awareness via a social media campaign and exhibition.
📺 Our media consumption
🎙️ Exciting news for podcast lovers! Investigative journalist Claudia Bromley recently announced that the hit podcast series Sweet Bobby is now being adapted into a Netflix documentary. This gripping story has captivated listeners with its twists and turns, and now it’s heading to the screen. If you haven’t already listened to the podcast, now’s the perfect time to catch up before the documentary drops. You can listen to it here.
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