Southeast Asian Newsrooms Launch 'Good As News' Podcast on Journalism and AI Challenges

A coalition of independent newsrooms in Southeast Asia launched the 'Good As News' podcast series, focusing on the challenges and future of journalism in the age of AI, Rappler reported. The pilot episode, titled 'The Hidden News Crisis and How It Affects You,' was released on May 4, 2026, and is available on Rappler’s YouTube channel.

Pia Ranada, Rappler’s head of community, moderated the pilot episode, which features Glenda M. Gloria, Rappler’s executive editor; Tham Seen Hau, Malaysiakini’s head of operations from Malaysia; and Wahyu Dhyatmika, Tempo Digital’s CEO from Indonesia.

Tham Seen Hau stated, 'The AI you use gets smarter because of the quality journalism newsrooms produce. The podcast series includes journalists and newsroom leaders from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar, according to Rappler.

The series addresses questions such as whether journalism still matters in a world shaped by AI summaries and endless scrolling, where long-form investigations fit in an attention economy built for speed, and how newsrooms can cut through noise and algorithmic bias.

Rappler described the podcast as bringing together participants from additional countries including Cambodia to reflect on pressures like shrinking attention spans, the rise of generative AI, and the need for collaboration to keep journalism trusted.

The conversation highlights the reliance of AI on journalism, with Tham Seen Hau pointing to the growing need for accountability and collaboration between tech platforms and the media.

Rappler noted that as technology reshapes information creation and consumption, the survival of independent journalism depends on adaptation and collective action.