About
Healing the bond between journalism and the public
News Alchemists started from a plain observation: the relationship between journalism and the people it means to serve is strained. We think it can be repaired.
Why this exists
Many people feel worn out by the news, distrust it, or have stopped paying attention. Many journalists feel the same fatigue from the other side of the screen.
We start from hope rather than blame. There are newsrooms and individuals doing work that audiences clearly value. Their methods can be studied, shared and copied.
So the project does three things: it shares ideas that give people in news a reason for optimism, it reconnects them with the purpose that led them to journalism, and it creates space to learn from colleagues who are getting it right.
Who is behind it
News Alchemists was created by Mattia Peretti, a learning experience designer, project manager and facilitator based in London. He is Italian and has also lived in Paris and the Netherlands.
Over about ten years he has worked in journalism support: at the European Journalism Centre, with JournalismAI and as an independent consultant. He is not a trained journalist, which he considers an advantage when asking why things are done the way they are.
The concept was developed during a fellowship with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). You can find him on LinkedIn.
How we work
People first
Every project starts with the audience: who they are, what they need, what gets in their way.
Evidence over opinion
We prefer data, experiments and real newsroom examples to slogans.
Generous sharing
Findings and methods are shared openly so the whole field can benefit.
Let's talk
Curious, sceptical or ready to try something? We would like to hear from you.
[email protected]