Social media, citizen journalism, AI-based reporting systems, big data, auto-generated news articles – with so much disruption happening, what will the future of journalism be? How will it survive all of these drastic shifts? Puruesh Chaudhary tackles these very questions in her chapter, “Shaping the Future of Journalism” and offers up foresight journalism as a potential solution. In this small interview, Puruesh tells us about herself, her chapter, her current projects, and what actions she believes would lead to a better future for us all.

What is the focus of your chapter in The Future of Business?

Journalism plays an important role in shaping public perception and opinions. While my chapter briefly highlights the use of technology as one of the key determinants of processing tremendous amount data and information in easy to understand linguistics either in form of human or artificial intelligence, it also underscores the urgent need to introduce foresight journalism, keeping in view of values and ethics in the academic sphere. Over the last decade or so bourgeoning sources of news have enabled information consumers to question the traditional infrastructure, often providing one dimensional coverage greatly undermining a relationship based on trust. Although ‘content is king’, the loss of confidence in these conventional mediums has created space for knowledge entrepreneurs to produce quality journalism, where maintaining public trust is the core interest. These alternate sources with a non-linear approach have the ability to adapt to technological advancements and respond to the rising needs of the consumer at a much faster scale.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

I am a futures researcher, development and strategic communications professional. My focus has been on creating knowledge collaboration, studying information trends and patterns contributing towards developing conceptual frameworks improving policy and decision-making in Pakistan.

What future-oriented topics or issues are you focusing on currently?

Recently I created a futures research grants programme aimed at promoting and pursuing Peace and Technology in collaboration with the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the Quaid-i-Azam University and The China Study Center at COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology. The purpose of doing this was to encourage young researchers to work on forward-looking study within the course of their masters programme at the university. Apart from this I am working on Pakistan Foresight Initiative, that aims to enable an environment for policymakers, legislatures and political groups to realign themselves in an effective decision-making process across matters related to human security. The long-term objective of this initiative is to institutionalize futures thinking in the country.

If you could bring about one change in the world to ensure a positive future – what would it be?

End hypocrisy and let go. Principles of co-existence have merely become rhetoric and inept; myopic policies have endangered lives and have made this world far more vulnerable. The world needs to think about the current and future generations using a wholesome approach; deeply networked sustainable futures is in the interest of governments at its people.

What is an agile company, and how can your business embrace agility and take advantage of the waves of disruptions that sink others? Contributing author Laura Goodrich discusses her chapter in The Future of Business, what she’s currently up to, and a bit about the positive changes she’d like to see for a better future.

What is the focus of your chapter in The Future of Business?

Are we able to adapt to the changing business times and trends quickly and efficiently? This is a big question that haunts most businesses in the times of unstable business environment. We live in a time of unprecedented change where a new product or service can change our work literally overnight.

So, what do we do? How do we keep pace? The obvious answer is – by responding quickly to changes; by having an Agility Mindset.

True that we have to respond quickly to changes. But let me tell you that just being responsive is not having and executing on an Agility Mindset. In fact, agility is about adopting a mindset that comprises of an absolute willingness and dedication to refine your position constantly, either by responding to change or facilitating the change in a timely fashion. Being responsive is just complementary to agility.

Here is where the challenge comes in. I facilitate countless CEO and senior leader sessions each year. In these sessions we grapple with challenges that relate to change. Unsurprisingly, what I find is that 9 times out of 10, a leader will lean on Industrial Age thinking when confronted with a challenge. An instinctive reaction. The need is to steer away from legacy models of operating a business.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

In 1995, I read an article called “On the Cutting Edge of the Digital Age”. That article and its content grabbed a hold of me and wouldn’t let go. I have spent the last 20 years researching change and the future of work, paying very close attention to these drivers of change: global connectedness, technological advances, demographic shifts and changing consumer and employee expectations. I have worked with leaders and executives leading critical change. More than anything I have been a keen observer of human behavior as it relates to change dynamic environments. I never tire of the research; in fact, it intrigues me everyday, and I am more passionate then ever to help leaders and organizations to have the agility to effectively maneuver the road ahead and more importantly create opportunity while on that road.

What future-oriented topics or issues are you focusing on currently?

Our focus continues to be on helping organizations develop an individual and collective Mindset for Change, building an Agility Mindset and Leveraging the Power of Generations. Each of these areas is of peak interest and need with organizations today, so we are focusing heavily on providing tools for leaders to develop those capacities on their teams and in their organizations. We specialize in the production and creation of online mindset and awareness programs that organizations provide to their leaders and teams. Our online programs serve as critical pieces to a larger puzzle strategically developed to build these capacities.

If you could bring about one change in the world to ensure a positive future – what would it be?

I believe that we live and lead in a time of unprecedented change and few industries will be exempt. Unfortunately, fewer yet have developed the right individual and collective mindset in their leadership and organization to effectively steer toward opportunities and away from the threats that the next decade will bring. So the one change I would bring to the world would be a Mindset for Change and an Agility Mindset, before it’s too late.

From video tattoos and electronic makeup, to subdural smart drug delivery systems, brain replication and even electronic immortality, Dr. Ian Pearson’s chapter “Body-Machine Convergence” covers the spectrum of physically combining man and machine in the future, and touches on the potential emotional and social ramifications such technologies could entail.

In the following short interview, Dr. Pearson, a globally acclaimed futurist and inventor, tells us a little bit more about himself and his contribution to The Future of Business.

More on The Future of Business and Dr. Pearson

What is the focus of your chapter in The Future of Business?

I write about the ongoing convergence of man and machine. I look at superficial connections via active skin, a field where simple prototypes of some functions are already starting to appear, and go on to the further future with direct links into the brain. These might be used to improve our performance or allow the brain to be replicated, enabling a form of electronic immortality. I also look briefly at our increasing psychological attachment to machines, hinting how we will become attached to future robots.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

I am an engineer futurologist focusing on future technology and how it will change every aspect of our everyday lives.

What future-oriented topics or issues are you focusing on currently?

Last week I documented a new kind of transport system, then went on to design a feasible mechanism for Spiderman’s silk thrower. I just finished a piece on the future of the nylon industry, did an interview on future football and am about to do an interview on techno-sexuality. No two days are the same.

If you could bring about one change in the world to ensure a positive future – what would it be?

I would allow people sharing the same geographical region to be governed by different governments, with differing sets of responsibilities and benefits. Much of the political conflict we suffer today is because current democracy allows one bunch of people to dictate how another bunch lives and demand that other people pay for their lifestyle choices. If we enable parallel democracy, people can subscribe to the lifestyle that best suits them. We are not all the same and democracy doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-everyone solution.