BBC OWs examine ‘who tells the story in an age of disruption’

Last night, Magdalen College School, Oxford (MCS) was thrilled to welcome Old Waynfletes (OWs) from the 1960s upwards, along with parents and friends of the school, to a stimulating and insightful discussion about the ‘disruptive’ role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology and digital media in our news.

Led by distinguished BBC journalists Rob Watson (OW 1979), Daniel Sandford (OW 1984) and Joe Pike (OW 2006), ‘Who Tells the Story: Journalism in an Age of Disruption’ considered the benefits of digital media to the news industry – alongside its potential costs to trust and impartiality.

During the two-hour event held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the three correspondents – who all appear regularly on our screens and speakers – discussed how technology and shifting social norms are shaking up journalism.

They described how technology has improved the speed and reach of newsgathering – with live reporting from around the world available via a handheld device in an instant. Yet they also shared their experience of so-called ‘fake news’, disinformation and their concerns about the risks to news integrity presented by social media eco-systems which rely on opinionated journalism. This was making the role of impartial newsgathering all the more challenging, particularly in a climate of declining trust, increasing polarisation of views and the growing phenomena of ‘news avoidance’ – practised by around four in ten people, according to recent research by the Reuters Institute. This explained the increasing value of initiatives like BBC Verify – launched in 2023 to give audiences confidence in the content in their news feeds – and of the continuing need for compelling content.

Helen Pike, Master of Magdalen College School, said: “I am grateful to Rob, Daniel, and Joe for taking a night off the Ten O’Clock News to share their invaluable insights. Their discussion was both entertaining and thought-provoking, offering a powerful reminder of the importance of engaging critically with the news we consume. It also reinforced the ongoing need to teach our pupils how to fact-check, identify fake news, and look beyond the headlines—empowering them to be discerning and informed consumers of information in a digital age. I hope that some of them will also shape the news of the future. A heartfelt thank you to our panel, as well as to the many Old Waynfletes and friends who came out in force.”

The next Waynflete Office event in London will be AI: Progress, Promise and Perils, held on Wednesday 4 June, 6-8.00pm. Tickets are available to book now, or for more information, please contact the Waynflete Office.