Aleksandra Ketlerienė: “The more diverse the newsroom, the more of the world it can see” | Blind Spot #10

SUMMARY

Aleksandra Ketlerienė, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of LRT.lt, explains why some topics in Lithuania remain “too sensitive” — drug policy, sex education, social inequality. They’re often avoided because they risk backlash or damaging political ratings.

Many issues stay invisible simply because journalists don’t encounter them in their own lives. That’s why, she says, newsrooms must be diverse — only then can they see beyond their own bubbles.

She notes a growing gap in the U.S., where younger generations with Latin American or Asian roots know little about the Baltics. Lithuania has its own blind spots: regions like Šalčininkai appear only during elections, while deeper issues — education, language policy, minority life — are ignored.

Journalists now must not only watch the government but also fight disinformation daily. Aleksandra tells her students: a good journalist must be ready to be disliked — the job is about the public’s right to know, not personal glory.

Despite challenges, she sees hope: as AI fakes and manipulation spread, people may begin valuing real, verified journalism more than ever.