Attending the Aspen Institute’s Will We Ever Trust the News Again? seminar offered University of Otago student Brennan McLennan a unique opportunity to explore the challenges of media, technology, and public trust through dialogue with international experts. In his article, he reflects on how engaging with diverse perspectives and immersive discussion can deepen understanding of complex, rapidly evolving issues.

What does it mean to trust the news in an age of AI, fractured attention, and declining public confidence? For Te-Rina Isaáko a youth leadership scholarship opened the door to three days of rigorous dialogue, challenge, and connection at the 2025 Socrates Seminar in Queenstown. In this reflection, she shares what it was like to step into a global conversation on media, trust, and leadership, and why youth voices are a necessary part of it.

How can democracy and journalism hold their ground in a world shaped by AI, speed, and information overload? Drawing on her experience as a systems thinker and sustainability practitioner, Katherine Short reflects on the 2025 Socrates Seminar. Her essay explores trust, accountability, and the enduring need for human judgement at the heart of democratic life, as technology reshapes how information is created, shared, and consumed.

Following his participation in the recent Aspen NZ Socrates Seminar, Alexander Plimmer considers the implications of declining trust in the news and what open dialogue can offer in navigating an increasingly fragmented information environment.