Ronan Farrow on What We Can Do to Keep Censorship and the Threats of AI at Bay

Multi-hyphenate journalist Ronan Farrow has been piercing the veils of power since 2017, when a series of New Yorker articles helped bring accusations against Harvey Weinstein to light. His particular level of muckraking journalistic scrutiny is rare these days, especially amid the consolidation of media outlets globally — most recently, for example, the wide-scale overhaul of “60 Minutes” by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, whom some would call pernicious and others radical.

In April this year, Farrow wrote a richly told portrait-cum-exposé of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in the New Yorker that has put an even more critical microscope on the threats artificial intelligence poses to industries at all levels. Meanwhile, in June, the Pulitzer Prize winner presented a first look at two forthcoming HBO true crime docuseries “The Palladino Files” and “Not a Very Good Murderer.” Both pair Farrow with documentary filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato at World of Wonder, expanding upon Farrow’s own print and podcast work in investigative true-crime journalism.

To speak about the new series and opine about the state of journalism and what we can do to keep AI and censorship at bay — or at least how we can more critically read the writing on the walls — Farrow joined IndieWire “Screen Talk” hosts Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio for a candid, wide-ranging discussion onstage at the Tribeca Festival.

In a lively conversation, Farrow spoke about the state of trustworthy news outlets amid the contraction we’re seeing everywhere in the industry, as well as what the Paramount/Warner Bros. merger means for news reporting and storytelling. We also discussed the recent firing of “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, and whether or not upheaval in the hugely popular news program reflects an attempt to destabilize a trusted news show, or change its political bias.

Farrow also gave us an inside look at his new series. Where “Not a Very Good Murderer” follows a former socialite and Miss Arizona beauty pageant winner who is involved in arson and attempted murder, “The Palladino Files” investigates the murder of a once-legendary private eye who also made Farrow his target.

Watch the “Screen Talk” interview with Ronan Farrow in the video above, or listen below or on your preferred podcast platform.