Mixed Signals from Semafor Media How to be elite in the age of populism, with the FT’s Roula Khalaf
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Sep 5, 2025 
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the Financial Times, joins to discuss the challenges of serving elite audiences amidst rising populism. She highlights the tension between high-quality journalism and accessibility, reflecting on the implications of a costly subscription model. Khalaf also shares insights from conversations with tech leaders on AI’s role in journalism, and how older FT journalists are thriving on social media. The discussion touches on the resilience of print media and the importance of adapting strategies to enhance accountability and authenticity in a rapidly changing media landscape.
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FT's Core Identity Is Global Business Coverage
- The FT remains primarily a business paper that also appeals beyond pure finance readers.
- Readers value its global economic and geopolitical perspective across regions.
Not An Anti-Populist Flagship, But Expertise First
- The FT does not purposefully brand itself as 'anti-populist' or simply elite-facing.
- It prioritizes expertise, explanation, and informing readers regardless of politics.
Quality Journalism Is Expensive And Narrowing
- Khalaf says the narrowing of high-quality journalism is a big problem because quality reporting is costly.
- The FT tries to widen reach via social platforms and improving free discovery to address that gap.