On 26 January 2016, the Rafael del Pino Foundation and the School of Communication of the University of Navarra organised the IV edition of "Conversations with...", with the participation of Paul Steiger, former Director of The Wall Street Journal and Executive Chairman of Propublica.
A 1964 graduate of Yale University with a degree in economics, Paul Steiger worked for 15 years as Washington business correspondent and business editor for the Los Angeles Times and for 26 years as a reporter and editor for The Wall Street Journal. During his tenure, his editors won 16 Pulitzer Prizes. He is founder and CEO of ProPublica.
Paul Steiger is Chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based non-profit organisation that advocates for press freedom worldwide, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Arlington-based Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which provides free legal assistance to journalists. From 1999 to 2007, he was a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board, serving as Chairman in his final year. He is also a Trustee of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, based in Miami, which funds efforts to improve journalism.
He has received countless awards and recognitions throughout his fruitful and extensive professional career, including the following: Columbia Journalism Award, University of Missouri Honor Award for Distinguished Service in Journalism, Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism from Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center, Gerald Loeb Award for lifetime achievement from the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, Dean's Medal for Distinguished Leadership from Brandeis University, Fourth Estate Award from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., National Press Foundation's George Beveridge Editor of the Year Award, Decade of Excellence Award from the World Leadership Forum in London, and American Society of News Editors Leadership Award.
Summary:
"Investigative journalism is a public service". This is what Paul Steiger, former editor of The Wall Street Journal and Executive Chairman of Propublica, said during his speech at the 4th edition of 'Conversations with...', organised by the Rafael del Pino Foundation and the School of Communication of the University of Navarra. According to Steiger, investigative journalism is in danger at the moment, due to the economic and technological changes that have taken place in recent years and that affect the media. New information and communications technologies, rising costs and increased competition operating at very low costs thanks to these new technologies, have led many media outlets to consider investigative journalism a luxury. In this context, Steiger explained, investigative journalists find themselves lacking the resources with which to carry out their work. In particular, the lack of time to do work that does not always result in a story and budget constraints are causing professionals who are not specifically dedicated to investigative work to have to do it in addition to their regular jobs. Investigative journalism, however, is necessary. It is a public service through which to stimulate positive change, Steiger said, by exposing malpractice (scandals, corruption, etc.) in major centres of power. In order to sustain investigative journalism, it is necessary to develop new business models for the media. Traditional newspapers are in decline because although the application of new technologies has made it possible to reduce the cost per copy, newsstand sales and subscription figures are also falling, while advertising revenues are decreasing. The future of the media would therefore lie in formulas that would allow them to charge for online information. This document summarises what was discussed during the meeting held at the Foundation. The Rafael del Pino Foundation is not responsible for the comments, opinions or statements made by the people who participate in its activities and which are expressed as a result of their inalienable right to freedom of expression and under their sole responsibility.
The Rafael del Pino Foundation is not responsible for the comments, opinions or statements made by the people who participate in its activities and which are expressed as a result of their inalienable right to freedom of expression and under their sole responsibility. The contents included in the summary of this conference are the result of the debates held at the meeting held for this purpose at the Foundation and are the responsibility of their authors.
The Rafael del Pino Foundation is not responsible for any comments, opinions or statements made by third parties. In this respect, the FRP is not obliged to monitor the views expressed by such third parties who participate in its activities and which are expressed as a result of their inalienable right to freedom of expression and under their own responsibility. The contents included in the summary of this conference are the result of the discussions that took place during the conference organised for this purpose at the Foundation and are the sole responsibility of its authors.
