Joan Maria Morros: "People must know how to differentiate between information and what is not"

The Dean of the Catalan Journalists' Association analyzes information saturation, the impact of AI, and the crucial role of local journalism.

Un periodista treballant en una redacció de ràdio moderna, amb auriculars i un micròfon, en un entorn professional.

Un periodista treballant en una redacció de ràdio moderna, amb auriculars i un micròfon, en un entorn professional.

Joan Maria Morros, Head of News at RAC1 and Dean of the Col·legi de Periodistes de Catalunya, emphasizes the need for media literacy education to combat misinformation in the current era of digital saturation.

The journalist points out the current paradox: despite the large number of channels available since 2008, information saturation, especially visible during the pandemic, causes people to need to disconnect and seek entertainment. This dynamic forces media outlets to find a new balance.
Regarding the young audience, Morros qualifies that relying solely on social media for information should be treated with caution. He acknowledges that media must adapt their language to platforms like Instagram to attract them, but without sacrificing rigor. He adds that the key to RAC1's success, which has reached a record one million sixty-four thousand listeners, lies in its direct and familiar language, speaking to people “the way they talk among themselves.”

"People must know how to differentiate between information and what is not. This is media education."

Joan Maria Morros · Dean of the Catalan Journalists' Association
The Dean argues that the fight against fake news requires media education, a task the Col·legi de Periodistes has promoted for fifteen years in secondary schools, advocating for it to be part of the curriculum. This training is crucial, as disseminators of fake news “do it very well” and create an environment that appears truthful.
Regarding technology, Morros views Artificial Intelligence as a positive tool that streamlines mechanical processes, such as interview transcription or statistical data retrieval. However, he insists that “there must always be a journalist behind it” to review, edit, and discriminate information. He also stresses that rigor must prevail over immediacy: “If there is any risk that the information I am giving has not gone through all the previous steps, I prefer to be second, but having done the job well.”
Finally, Morros highlights the importance of local journalism, which is “essential for building community” and maintains high credibility because it explains what happens in the immediate surroundings. He recalls his beginnings at Anoia Ràdio in Igualada. He also laments the historical precariousness of the sector and the need for society to accept that quality information, which requires investment and newsrooms, “has a price.”
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