Journalist | Video producer | Navy Veteran | Peace Corps Volunteer
Understanding
journalism's role in conflict.
Trust is required. It’s not enough to delivers news, information and facts. In order to access sources, convey your intentions and do the work, you must foster some level of trust.
As journalists we hold a unique position — we intrude into the center of conflicting narratives. Therein lies a range of challenges and opportunities — we can facilitate dialogue that mends rather than creates rifts.
A service mindset can reshape how the public interacts with and perceives the conflict and the media itself.
The data is conclusive.
Public trust in the media is plummeting.
75% of survey respondents
believe the media would rather attract a big audience than tell people what they need to know.
42% of survey respondents
in the United States
trust the media.
67% of survey respondents
believe the media would rather
support an ideology than
inform the public.
Source: 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer.
Clients
"Jeff's expertise and masterful storytelling have breathed new life into our newsroom."
Jamie R.
"The concepts Jeff has introduced to our staff have revolutionized our approach to news."
Taylor M.
"Jeff doesn't just dump ideas, he expertly trains and coaches our journalists through implimenting them."
Chris P.
Testimonials
CONTACT
Keynotes & Training
Adopting a service mindset from A-Z
There's a fairly new "gold rush" in journalism. It's promises include increased viewers, wealthy sponsors and fame. For the lucky few, they'll become celebrities. But, it's a Faustian bargain for the news organizations themselves. The price is ultimately distrust and discord. In this talk we'll discuss the ways to shore up news reporting while satisfying the growing demand for advocacy journalism.
Conflict-sensative Journalism Training
Minimizing harm is inarguably one of the most important ethical bulwarks of traditional journalism. Yet, in many ways it's the most intangible and hardest to measure. It requires a knowledge of conflict dynamics, conflict resolution and conflict communication. And, measurement comes in the form of increased trust.
Shaping the future of journalism
How people access news is fundamentally changing all the time. How can we keep up? The challenges are overwelming: artificial intelligence, disinformation, partisanship, social media algorithms and failing business models. There is hope. Information and solid reporting have lasting value. Navigating this future requires changing the norms and traditions to which we've clung.
m 952.237.9850
Lakeville, Minnesota
© 2025 Jeff Achen & Associates, LLC
Hi, I'm Jeff
Tune into the news, scroll through your social media feeds,
or open your inboxes and you’ll notice one pattern.
Conflict.
What can journalists do to better understand, navigate, and report on conflict without losing their credibility, their audience, or their integrity? As a former journalist, digital strategist and video producer I've been fascinated by this question.
The tools of my trade have always been curiosity and the courage to step out of my comfort zone and in to service.
I joined the U.S. Navy at 17, a formative experience in so many ways. Fast forward 9 years and I volunteered to serve my country yet again as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal. It turns out that my record of service has been key to building trusted relationships.
Over my career, I've worked in television as a news reporter, a print and digital journalist, a digital marketing strategist, and as an executive director of a nonprofit news organization.
I genuinely love to serve others. I deeply love public speaking, education and meaningful dialogue.