If all journalism is well crafted but misconceives its purpose or use, it can still fail. Competence is a bar to journalism's salvation. The competent seek to protect their competency, not alter it. If all journalism is done by competent journalists, who feel no vulnerability , it can still fail. If all journalism consists of sound information, but users can't act, it can still fail.
Journalism is inherently collaborative .
Its value is created by journalists and the people they serve. If journalism reaches every citizen, but doesn't engage citizens, it can still fail. A clash in values between newsrooms and boardrooms is neither inevitable nor fatal. The lethal gap is between journalists and citizens, who define useful journalism differently. If all journalism fulfills its own highest values, but not citizens' wishes, it can still fail.