My story focuses on the news media and why we need to trust it as an institution. I talk about how, as a journalist, I’ve seen firsthand how the formula is broken, and how after the election many of us questioned if we could trust a news industry that seemed out of touch with reality. At the end of the day, the burden is on us to trust the news and decide what to do with the truth. The news media isn’t perfect, but it’s the best shot we’ve got at revealing who we are and how we can change the world.

Drew Schwendiman is a junior at USC studying Broadcast and Digital Journalism. Ever since his first musical in middle school, he’s found a passion for telling stories to audiences in new and unconventional ways. After a successful run competing in speech and debate in high school, he came to USC with the dreams of being a daytime talk show host. Now, you can find Drew anchoring The Morning Brew and The Buzz every week, bringing his charm, sass, and wit to a screen near you.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx