Q&A: Paul Donoughue on the future of journalism

Paul Donoughue’s journalism career spans from early days of local reporting to experimenting with digital storytelling at the ABC Innovation Lab. In this interview, he shares his insights on getting started, the evolution of media, and what excites him about the future of journalism. 

How did you get your start in journalism?

My first full-time journalism job was at The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail in Brisbane, mainly covering general news and the police desk. I dealt with a lot of breaking news- fires, crimes, car crashes- which I think is a standard starting point for reporters. But I had always loved music and had been writing for street press magazines in Brisbane since high school. 

When I started at The Courier-Mail, I naturally gravitated towards arts reporting too, especially music. That mix of general news and music writing gave me a solid foundation. After a few years in Brisbane, I lived in Berlin for a while, and when I returned, I joined the ABC as a producer for the news website, which was my entry into digital journalism. 

What excites you the most about your role at the ABC’s Innovation Lab? 

There are many things, especially figuring out ways to stay relevant as a public service broadcaster. Audiences consume media so differently, and things change so quickly all the time. It’s an interesting challenge to think about where audiences at a given time, and how we can connect with them. 

For example, heading into the 2022 federal election, we developed a series of explainers for first-time voters, using TikTok and Instagram reels. It was really rewarding to package fundamental political concepts- things like what preferential voting is or how the chambers of parliament work- in formats that are engaging for young people.

What challenges have you faced in journalism, especially with the shift to digital? 

News is 24/7, and that can be demanding. When I worked in newsrooms, it was fast-paced and involved a lot of shift work. Today, we’re constantly filing for multiple platforms, which adds to the intensity. 

Another challenge is dealing with difficult subjects. You sometimes must cover hard stories, and it’s tough to balance the need for information while being sensitive to the people involved. On top of that, there’s the responsibility to your audience and your sources, ensuring accuracy while maintaining trust. Having supportive colleagues and managers has been crucial for managing the pressure. 

What advice do you have for young reporters trying to break into digital journalism? 

First, develop your news sense and editorial judgement. It’s like a muscle that strengthens over time. You must also read a lot, and then just keep practicing. 

Another important piece of advice is to have a diverse skill set. Whether it’s video editing, audio production, or even coding, these additional skills can make you stand out. Journalism today is so broad that there’s room for all kinds of content creators. If you’re great at making comics, for instance, that could be an outlet for journalism. The point is to play to your strengths, as they can often become useful tools in the newsroom. 

How do you balance innovation with maintaining the ABC’s journalistic integrity? 

We always start with the audience in mind. Understanding what people need and how they consume media is key to everything we do. For example, we look at data to guide our content strategy, ensuring we’re delivering stories in formats that people want. 

You don’t want the technology or the platform to get in the way of good journalism. You must think about how the innovation helps or enhances the storytelling or reporting. The journalism itself always comes first, so whatever we do with new technologies like AI or data, it must complement the journalism, not replace it. 

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? 

That’s a tough question. I think one of the most rewarding things is when a story you’ve worked on for a long time really connects with people. I also love the collaboration nature of journalism; working with people who have different skill sets and backgrounds is incredibly enriching.

But maybe the biggest reward is getting to meet such a wide variety of people. Journalism forces you out of your own experience, and that’s healthy. You get to appreciate different perspectives and realise that things are rarely as black and white as they seem. That’s been a great lesson throughout my career.