TIME owner Marc Benioff shares why the link between journalism and humanity is continually important. Although we have information available at our fingertips, we still struggle to understand the forces that shape our world. Social media platforms and public institutions are struggling to survive as they face lawsuits and public mistrust continues to grow.
Free press which ensures transparency of information and accountability is also under attack in the U.S. and globally. “We’re surrounded by unprecedented prosperity, but also shocking inequality, leading to calls for a new, more equitable and sustainable form of capitalism. Artificial intelligence can make us smarter, wealthier and healthier, yet algorithms increasingly decide the articles we read,” says Benioff.
Now, more than ever, the truth matters. The facts are important. “Whatever organization, business or institution that we’re a part of, we need to realize that we are not separate from the larger social issues that surround us. We have a responsibility not simply to make a profit, but to make the world a better place,” adds Benioff.
This includes a free and vibrant press, which helps us understand our world and the stories of our fellow human beings.
“That’s why my wife Lynne and I decided to become the owners of TIME one year ago. For nearly a century, TIME has been trusted by millions of people around the world to tell the stories that matter most and to help us see each other. We see this commitment to telling the stories that matter and that shape our lives in TIME’s coverage, led by Editor-in-Chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal and a global team,” said Benioff.
He adds, “Lynne and I also have a deep appreciation for the power of a free and vibrant press on a more local level, in our own community of San Francisco. Last year, I supported a ballot measure to levy a tax on San Francisco’s largest companies, including my own, to address the city’s homelessness crisis. A free press played a vital role during the public debate.”
“What we do know is that the changes we seek won’t just happen on their own. They’ll only occur when we truly listen to each other and recognize that everyone – including a little boy, homeless on the streets of San Francisco – matters and deserves an equal chance to succeed and to live with dignity and opportunity,” Benioff concluded. “These are the stories that we need to hear—and that should inspire every one of us to do what we can to serve all our stakeholders and to improve the state of our world.”
Today, TIME is a leading publisher on digital and social platforms, with a global audience of well over 100 million. The company also boasts five Emmy nominations in the last three years.
