Using communication to build trust with James Ball

James Ball is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author. He is a fellow of the think-tank Demos and the political editor of The New European. He is also the current chair of the UK committee of the Ethical Journalism Network.

Having been part of the Pulitzer prize-winning journalism team at the Guardian who covered the NSA leaks by Edward Snowden, it’s little surprise he’s developed more than a passing interest in the topics of trust and truth. Amongst other titles, in 2017 James published ‘Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World’.

The 2024 IC Index highlighted the crucial role of trust at work. With trust on a knife-edge in so many organisations now, we wanted to chat with someone who had researched into this vital issue.

Our conversation with James explores the critical role of trust and truth in healthy, well-functioning societies, and what happens when the people we ought to be able to trust don’t tell the truth.

Takeaways

• Trust is a pressing issue in the workplace, especially as new ways of working continue to evolve.
• The definition of trust is nebulous and difficult to quantify, but it generally refers to the belief in what someone says.
• Facts and figures alone are not enough to change beliefs; trust is built through starting where people are and addressing their concerns.
• Transparency and open communication are key in building trust and authenticity in journalism and internal communication. Regular and transparent communication is essential for building trust in organizations.
• Balancing 'I don't know' with providing information is crucial for maintaining credibility.
• AI can assist in communication but should not replace human interaction.
• Effective communication involves building rapport, finding common ground, and challenging constructively.
• Communication should be inclusive, honest, and open to empower individuals and foster trust.

About James Ball

James Ball

James Ball is an award winning journalist, broadcaster and author, fellow of the think-tank Demos, and the political editor of The New European.

He has worked as the global editor of TBIJ, a special correspondent at BuzzFeed UK and special projects editor at The Guardian, where he played a key role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the NSA leaks by Edward Snowden, as well as the offshore leaks, HSBC Files, Reading the Riots and Keep it in the Ground projects. 

At WikiLeaks he was closely involved in Cablegate – the publication of 250,000 classified US embassy cables in 2010 – as well as working on two documentaries based on the Iraq War Logs. James is a longstanding trustee for, and chair of the UK committee of, the Ethical Journalism Network.

James is the author of multiple books, including "Post-Truth and "The Tangled Web We Weave: Inside The Shadow System That Shapes the Internet”. His most recent book, “The Other Pandemic: How Qanon Contaminated The World” was published by Bloomsbury in July 2023.