Blockchain and journalism - a reality check

Transparency, immutability of records and decentralisation – it is these key features of blockchain technologies that resonate with the core values of public interest journalism, which serves to hold the powerful accountable. But how exactly can blockchain be used to support the journalistic ecosystem in practice? And how might the technology change the very way journalists work?

In this lightning talk at the Forum for Media and Development Symposium 2019 I offered my take on where we stand with regard to the role of blockchain in journalism. I touch on the topics of blockchain for funding journalism, for combatting fake news, for backing intellectual property claims and for resisting censorship. Time was short, so that I could unfortunately not shed light on blockchain-powered freedom of information infrastructures, which could affect the practice of investigative reporting itself.