Practical Strategies to Navigate Today’s Media Challenges • Brant Houston

In this masterclass video, Brant Houston, the Knight Chair in Investigative Reporting at the University of Illinois and co-founder of the Global Investigative Journalism Network, shares practical strategies for navigating today’s challenging media environment.

He offers clear, actionable advice: test whether your audience actually needs your reporting, build multiple revenue streams to stay sustainable, and treat journalism as a business as much as a mission. From grants and events to training and direct support, diversification is key to survival.

Houston also stresses the importance of adapting to change — embracing tools like data journalism and AI — while staying grounded in core reporting values. Above all, he highlights collaboration as a critical tool: working across newsrooms to extend resources, increase impact, and strengthen security. A critical, hands-on guide for journalists building the future of the profession.

Credits:

• Interview: Sarah Ulrich
• Video Editing: Quentin Egloff
• Music: Lionel Marçal
• Filming: Ron Lopez, Reynald Ramirez, Hashim Hakeem
• Supervision and Coordination: Sandrine Rigaud
• Special Thanks: Glenn Chong
• With the support of The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung