Is the revival of newspapers possible? How to fight against sites that simply collect clicks and likes? What is the value of the media shaming someone? TED speakers also give talks on topics such as these.

TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a global set of conferences. Thanks to TED, various professionals, experts, people recognized or novices in their field present “ideas worth spreading” — on science, art, politics, business, technology, and other topics. 

Media.am presents its pick of TED talks on the media. 

1. Jonathan Klein: Photos that changed the world

Getty Images co-founder and director Jonathan Klein talks about the important role of photos that depict “life as it is” at first glance. According to Klein, many photos disseminated through the world’s major media have had a great impact on readers’ perceptions and ideas. 

The media expert’s research uncovers the two most important human interests: the most iconic photographs of the 20th century referred to either death (WWII, the Holocaust, the Vietnam War), or politicians or famous people (Mahatma Gandhi, Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy).

2. Jacek Utko: Can design save newspapers?

 

Jacek Utko is well known in Eastern Europe because he does almost the impossible: by improving only the newspaper’s design, he doubles its circulation.

This Polish designer is convinced that the era of newspapers has reached its end, due to iPhones, tablets, and environmental aspirations aimed at saving trees. But, nevertheless, there are innovations that can save even a dead organism like print newspapers.

According to Utko, a newspaper should be like music: from its first page to its last it must have an internal rhythm. And rhythm can be created through design…

3. Monica Lewinsky: The price of shame

Among the most watched TED Talks, this talk attracted people’s attention not by its subject, but by the speaker. This former White House intern with whom former US President Bill Clinton had an affair after many years of silence tells the world about the negative role media played in her life.

According to Lewinsky, being subjected to pressure by the media on several occasions drove her to suicidal thoughts. “News sources plastered photos of me all over to sell newspapers, banner ads online, and to keep people tuned to the TV,” she says.

Lewinsky talks about bullying, highlighting that it is the media that engages in the most effective and harmful bullying…

4. Megan Kamerick: Women should represent women in media

Journalist Megan Kamerick talks about the underrepresentation of women and women’s issues in the media. According to Kamerick, the onus is on female journalists to raise women’s issues for the gender balance in the media to be restored.

Megan Kamerick brings vivid examples of the difference between male and female journalists’ coverage of incidents of rape of young girls and the words that are used to describe violence against women. If the majority of newspaper editors were women, the picture would be different, she says.

5. Sally Kohn: Don’t like clickbait? Don’t click

This just-over-four-minute talk is a response to complaints on social media on the gathering of clicks and likes. Be responsible to your clicks and likes, since with just one click you’re not only reading news, but also passing that story to others.

Media analyst Sally Kohn in simple language says if you don’t want your life to be full of negativity, don’t like those sites that beg for clicks. And if you don’t want to read news every day on the Kardashians or Donald Trump, then don’t click on those stories.

Zhanna Poghosyan