Interview conducted by: Gökhan Çolak

Introduction written by: Tricia Chérie

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At a time when media landscapes are rapidly shifting and AI is stealing headlines, it’s human storytelling that remains the real disruptor. Molly Stark Dean is a journalist, educator, and digital media strategist whose career spans major newsrooms, including Fox, CBS, Reuters, and CoinDesk. She now shapes the next generation of journalists through her teaching at The New School.

In this conversation, Dean talks candidly about the digital transformations in journalism, why storytelling still matters more than flashy tech, and her work with platforms like Wikimedia and the Women Do News project. What emerges is a portrait of a journalist who knows the system, critiques it, and continues to fight for equity, transparency, and ethics in an age of disruption.

This interview is part of our ongoing series on information ecologies and digital resistance. Molly reminds us that truth-telling is a moving target—but it’s one worth aiming for.

Entering Journalism and Professional Experience

Q: How did you first get involved in journalism?

My high school in Vermont was a student news bureau.

Q: Was there a pivotal moment that inspired you to pursue this path?

I used to watch the local news with my dad every evening.

Q: Having worked at outlets such as Fox News, CBS News, Reuters, and CoinDesk, how have these different experiences shaped your perspective on journalistic practices?

These different experiences showed me how universal newsrooms can be: same shit; different newsroom.

Digital Media and Storytelling

Q: In your view, how have digital platforms transformed the way we tell stories in journalism?

A: Every new method of storytelling gets journalism closer to telling the truth: from oral communication to TV news and digital platforms.

What do you think is the most critical element for a story to be impactful in a digital environment?

Know who you are speaking to and decide the audience you wish to engage.

Education and the New Generation of Journalists

You teach a course titled “Journalism and the Machine” at The New School. What core issues or themes do you focus on in that course?

I focus on technology and its influence on the journalism industry.

What skills or competencies do you find most important to instill in emerging journalists today?

Storytelling: it’s more important than learning any emerging journalism technology.

Women Journalists and Representation

Could you share more about your work with the Women Do News project?

I promote digital gender equality by writing Wikipedia articles for women journalists.

How would you describe the key challenges women journalists face in terms of visibility in digital spaces?

Digital gender inequality stems from a systematic devaluing of women in all industries.

Wikimedia Activism

What kind of content do you produce through your collaboration with Wikimedia NYC, and what kind of impact do you aim to achieve?

My journalism career helped me identify key news influencers to speak on panels at Wikimedia events.

How does open access to knowledge intersect with journalism today?

Journalism is the underlying source code of the open knowledge movement. One is not possible without the other.

Ethics and Editorial Principles

Have you encountered ethical dilemmas while working in different newsrooms? If so, how did you approach them?

Yes, I don’t approve of any work done without a livable wage and healthcare; it is a herculean task to find such work in newsrooms.

How do you prioritize ethical principles when developing content strategies?

A content strategy is most effective when it is developed with clear ethical principles outlined beforehand.

Future of Journalism

What are your thoughts on the growing impact of AI and algorithms in journalism?

Journalism pivoted to other tech hype in the past: AI is just the current tech obsession.

How do you envision journalism evolving in the next decade?

Human storytelling is the future.