Countering misinformation will be journalism’s challenge for the “next several decades,” CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins told the National Press Foundation’s Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship class.
In a wide-ranging discussion about the demands of a never-ending news cycle and the challenges looming in 2024, Collins, the network’s host of The Source, said challenging false information requires a commitment to responsible reporting and “taking it seriously.”
“Today, more than ever, when we’re on Twitter (X), we’re on Threads, Facebook, Instagram—there’s so much information out there and the way to push back on that is going to be the challenge of the next several decades for our profession,” Collins said.
She highlighted an interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy about his suggestions that federal agents might have been on the highjacked planes involved in the 9/11 attacks.
“We thought it was an important thing to pursue because there are 9/11 truthers out there,” Collins said, referring to those who continue to promulgate false conspiracy theories. “9/11 did happen. It’s not a conspiracy. There’s no evidence there were federal agents on the plane. Everyone has looked into this, and I just think if you’re running for president, you have a responsibility with your platform, and he has a big platform.”
In her role as anchor, Collins talked of the importance of “active listening,” as an effective interviewing strategy that can often yield breaking news.
Collins, a former White House correspondent for the network, acknowledged that the work and desire to advance often requires personal sacrifice. But she urged journalists to be open to new opportunities throughout their careers.
“You’re never going to stop growing as a reporter,” Collins said. “You will constantly be learning. You’re not just going to hit 32 and be like, ‘Okay, I’ve got everything down. I’m good for the rest of my life.’ I think you’re constantly evolving and learning how to cover things, and so that’s what the last year has been like for me.”
And 2024, with Donald Trump seeking to regain the White House despite facing 91 felony counts in four criminal cases, promises to be a year unlike any other for political journalists.
“I think the game has changed,” Collins said. “I think people understand Trump more and they understand his tactics more… I think that’s really the focus for covering Trump this time around is what he would do as a president who doesn’t have to worry about reelection, who has the Republican Party in his grasp so firmly that they’ll do whatever he wants.”
Access the full transcript here.
