Slow journalism in Ibero-America and Spain: Ethics, trust, and challenges in the age of digital transformation

In an era of rapid digital transformation, the media landscape is undergoing profound changes. This research explores how slow journalism is being positioned as a possible response to challenges such as misinformation and the increasing automation of news content. It analyzes the role of journalists in embracing this approach, which emphasizes in-depth reporting and authentic storytelling, as a means of offering depth and reflection amid the pressures of accelerated digital news production. Through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 40 media professionals and experts from Ibero-America and Spain, the study also examines how slow journalism is incorporated into digital strategies to restore media credibility and foster deeper audience trust as a counterbalance to speed-driven news cycles. The findings suggest that slow journalism is perceived as a deliberate response to the erosion of journalistic standards, offering depth, verification, and narrative quality as distinguishing features. Journalists recognized both its benefits and limitations: while it can counter misinformation and encourage critical analysis, its implementation is constrained by economic pressures and audience demand for immediacy. Rather than positioning it as a universal or prescriptive solution, the study situates slow journalism within broader strategies to strengthen credibility, uphold ethical standards, and sustain the democratic role of journalism in digitally accelerated environments shaped by cultural, economic, and technological complexities.