In Reality Courtney Radsch: Information is an Ecosystem. Without Journalism, It Collapses
Oct 16, 2025
Courtney Radsch, Director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty, brings her expertise in press freedom and digital rights to discuss the critical role of journalism in the information ecosystem. She argues that journalism serves as a keystone species, essential for transparency and community trust. The conversation delves into the health of the U.S. information system, highlighting threats from AI and surveillance capitalism. Courtney also advocates for reforms including breaking up monopolies and regulatory frameworks to rebuild trust and support independent journalism.
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Journalism As The Ecosystem Keystone
- Courtney Radsch frames the information environment as an ecosystem with journalism as a keystone species.
- Without journalism's transparency and fact-gathering, the broader information ecosystem and democratic governance erode.
Resilience Means Pluralism And Competition
- Resilience means pluralism, duplication, and competition across infrastructure and information sources.
- Those features protect the information ecosystem from domination or collapse.
Current System Is Unhealthy And Distrustful
- The U.S. information ecosystem is unhealthy due to concentration, attention-driven incentives, and surveillance logic.
- These forces erode trust and make distinguishing reality from fabricated content harder.