A Theory of Trust Building

Abstract

Abstract Chapter 6 describes what an identity-aware care through listening and learning in order to build trust might look like in practice. I assert that when we view in aggregate all of these transformations happening around trust-building via engagement journalistsm, a paradigmatic pattern emerged that demonstrated a significant value system overhaul—the first of its kind in more than a centure for this profession. This conclusion to the book emphatically underscores that white journalists can no longer sit out the conversation about race. They must understand their whiteness in all its dimensions, especially in how it affects their journalism, how it influences reactions, and how much privilege and bias are wrapped up in it. This holds true for their liberalness and other identities as well. In addition, I ask that all journalists interrogate how they are bringing an ethic of care into their work as a way to assume new roles in the post-COVID world in which mainstream journalism has lost relevance. Finally, I emphasize how all of us participating in information exchange through all of our different platforms also have caring responsibilities in the way that we interact with political discourse. A series of recommendations punctuates the book.