Blockchain, the technology underlying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, is a hot topic with many different interpretations and applications. In the world of journalism, there is much interest in using blockchain for practical problems such as archiving and verifying stories, building trust between news organizations and audiences, and tracking the origins of content.
Blockchain is a distributed network of files chained together using programs that create a unique hash for each file. Every node on the network checks new and old versions of the files by comparing their hashes, creating an immutable record of all changes.
The idea of using blockchain to verify and share information has been popularized by the success of Bitcoin, which uses a similar system to track the origins of its transactions. Since then, interest in blockchain has exploded as people see the potential to use it for a wide range of purposes.
Journalists might find that blockchain technology reconfigures how they access government data. For example, instead of having to ask each agency individually for documents or files, journalists would be able to submit requests through private blockchain networks that are closed to outsiders to limit access. These networks are designed to increase trust within a trusted community and require fewer resources such as high-end computer CPUs, time, and electricity to validate blocks of information.
Other practical applications of blockchain for journalists include storing and auditing metadata such as the date and time a story was published and byline, or filtering harmful advertising content from digital ad exchanges. More broadly, blockchain could become a vital tool for restoring trust between news organizations and their audiences as the prevalence of misinformation continues to grow on social media.
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