Predictions for Journalism 2025 » Collections » Nieman Journalism Lab » Pushing to the Future of Journalism

Nieman Lab.

Predictions for
Journalism, 2025.

Each year, we ask some of the smartest people in journalism and media what they think is coming in the next 12 months. At the end of a trying 2024, here’s what they had to say.

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Gideon Lichfield
The media becomes an activist for democracy

Marlon A. Walker
Embracing influencers as allies

Meredith Artley
Action over analysis

“It may be a challenge to find a writer who can channel the viewpoint of the American voters who favored Donald Trump in 2024 while still honoring the principles of responsible journalism.”

Matthew Pressman
The New York Times will hire a pro-Trump columnist

“Journalists can fall into a trap of parroting the language provided by officials, whether that’s law enforcement, the courts, politicians, academics, or subject-matter experts.”

Doris Truong
Watch your language

“The next great digital media product will capture all of the best qualities of an old-fashioned newspaper, and more.”

Simon Allison
News websites hit an evolutionary dead end

“It was never about the size of inventory and the pricing. It isn’t about the transaction. Independent bookstores are about relationships and community.”

Eric Nuzum, Taking lessons from independent bookstores

“We got here through nearly 600 years of editorial choices, in one story after the other, from the birth of the printing press to today.”

Cassie Owens, No more baby steps in fixing crime coverage

“For too long, science journalism has been treated as something distinct, something extra — the domain of specialists writing for audiences who are already deeply interested in and informed about science. This is bad.”

Siri Carpenter, Science journalism becomes plain old journalism

Rachel S. Hunt
Accommodating journalists is in — or you’re out

Nikita Roy
AI turns news into a conversation

Joshua P. Darr
Covering Trump 2.0, now with less Trump

Sarabeth Berman
The rebirth of local news

“Audiences are embracing human-curated content delivered through both digital and analog channels.”

Rodney Gibbs, To hell with algorithms

“In a world where GenAI presents itself as the solution, we will return to the social sciences, Humanities, and even old-style journalism.”

Daniel Trielli, Adjusting to a tech-heavy but code-light world

Simon Galperin
Journalism as a social service

Aimee Rinehart
A renewed appetite for print

All predictions in chronological order

Gideon LichfieldThe media becomes an activist for democracy“We cannot be neutral about this, by definition. A free press that doesn’t agitate for democracy is an oxymoron.”

Marlon A. WalkerEmbracing influencers as allies“News organizations will increasingly rely on digital creators not just as amplifiers but as integral partners in storytelling.”

Meredith ArtleyAction over analysis“We’ve overindexed on problem articulation, to the point of problem admiring. The risk is that we are analyzing ourselves into inaction and irrelevance.”

Matthew PressmanThe New York Times will hire a pro-Trump columnist“It may be a challenge to find a writer who can channel the viewpoint of the American voters who favored Donald Trump in 2024 while still honoring the principles of responsible journalism.”

Doris TruongWatch your language“Journalists can fall into a trap of parroting the language provided by officials, whether that’s law enforcement, the courts, politicians, academics, or subject-matter experts.”

Simon AllisonNews websites hit an evolutionary dead end“The next great digital media product will capture all of the best qualities of an old-fashioned newspaper, and more.”

Eric NuzumTaking lessons from independent bookstores“It was never about the size of inventory and the pricing. It isn’t about the transaction. Independent bookstores are about relationships and community.”

Cassie OwensNo more baby steps in fixing crime coverage“We got here through nearly 600 years of editorial choices, in one story after the other, from the birth of the printing press to today.”

Siri CarpenterScience journalism becomes plain old journalism“For too long, science journalism has been treated as something distinct, something extra — the domain of specialists writing for audiences who are already deeply interested in and informed about science. This is bad.”

Rachel S. HuntAccommodating journalists is in — or you’re out“To employers I say, take the extra minute to wonder: What else might this person have going on in their life that’s impacting their performance, and how can I help them?”

Nikita RoyAI turns news into a conversation“The future of news is moving beyond the written word. With AI at its core, it’s conversational, spoken, interactive, responsive, and deeply personal — the very essence of meaningful human communication.”

Joshua P. DarrCovering Trump 2.0, now with less Trump“Every president claims a mandate and a decisive victory, but saying so doesn’t make it so. Media coverage is crucial for determining the scope of that power.”

Sarabeth BermanThe rebirth of local news“There’s an old adage in the news business that journalists only cover the planes that crash. But in this case, we need to cover the planes that are taking off.”

Rodney GibbsTo hell with algorithms“Audiences are embracing human-curated content delivered through both digital and analog channels.”

Daniel TrielliAdjusting to a tech-heavy but code-light world“In a world where GenAI presents itself as the solution, we will return to the social sciences, Humanities, and even old-style journalism.”

Simon GalperinJournalism as a social service“Journalism as a social service is about helping people and communities become the best versions of themselves. That’s something another 100 years of Pulitzer Prizes will not achieve.”

Aimee RinehartA renewed appetite for print“The printed page offers our minds a break from those hits of dopamine that distracted us from thinking, feeling, and doing more important things.”

Ethan Toven-LindseyBluesky is just the beginning“For news organizations looking to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, exploring these platforms isn’t just about finding new distribution channels – it’s about building the foundation for future AI-powered news experiences.”

Basile SimonJournalists fight digital decay“Physical deterioration, outdated formats, publications disappearing, and the relentless advance of technology leave archives vulnerable.”

Meena ThiruvengadamA generation of journalists moves on“Instead of rewarding these things with fair pay, job security and moral support, journalism as an industry exploits their love of the craft.”

Taylor LorenzPrediction markets go mainstream“If all of this sounds like a libertarian fever dream, I hear you. But as these markets rise, legacy media will continue to slide into irrelevance.”

Matt CarlsonMaybe we really are done with news?“We’re in a cultural moment that, quite positively, is marked by an enhanced focus on mental health and openly confronting personal struggles. News can be too much.”

Jeremy GilbertA new generation of knowledge management tools“Technology will finally help journalists give their audience members a better version of the news article, one which favors understanding, not just informing.”

Delano MasseyJournalism has its Kendrick Lamar year“We must rise to this challenge with Kendrick-like precision: thoughtful, impactful, and unapologetic. Writing — our craft’s core — must be sharper, richer, and distinctive.”

Alex Sujong LaughlinThe podcast middle class will continue to shrink“The Rogans and Coopers of the world will float in their opulent pools while the rest of us fight for greedy sips of what’s left.”

José ZamoraNewsrooms fight back against criminalization“In 2025, they will prioritize building local and regional support networks, enhancing digital security, and looking for support in legal defense.”

Valérie Bélair-GagnonHumanness > authenticity“Journalists risk losing their audiences through enactments of authenticity that, at their core, may be perceived less as genuine humanness and more as illusory performance.”

Jacob L. NelsonJournalists embrace transparency about the business side“In 2025, journalists will acknowledge that people’s skepticism toward news is fundamentally tied up in their unflattering misunderstandings about how journalists — and the organizations they work for — make money.”

Hafsa MaqsoodThe line between activism and journalism breaks“When journalists around the world are being killed for practicing their freedom of press, journalists have no choice but to become activists.”

Ole ReißmannPut AI at the beginning, not at the end“No one magic button, but many small magical buttons.”

Mario GarcíaThe distinct human writer becomes more essential“As AI-generated content becomes ubiquitous, the qualities that define human writing — authenticity, emotional depth, and creative intuition — will become even more critical, ensuring that a writer’s presence is felt throughout a narrative.”

Larry RyckmanLocal collaboration follows contraction“The key for those outside of New York and Washington will be to intensify their focus on local, on problem-solving, and on bringing understanding to complex issues in chaotic times.”

Kerri HoffmanPublic media embraces its future“This isn’t just about technology. It’s about recommitting to our mission of serving the public good.”

Jody BrannonStory budgets get reshaped to coax the disengaged“The news sector must jettison many traditional practices and adapt/adopt creative approaches to entice news consumers and news avoiders to want to stay informed.”

Jay LaufB2B media shifts from content to solutions“Today’s media faces a paradox: Professionals want constant updates and insights but suffer from overwhelming information streams.”

Linda Solomon WoodLessons learned in The Building of Lost Causes“The skills we developed while facing down the fossil fuel industry — persistence through trolling campaigns, converting readers one by one, turning an upstart publication into essential reading — these aren’t just about journalism. They’re about how to keep building when everything around you feels like it’s crumbling.”

Jonas KaiserBlocking out the audience’s siren song“But most governance — even extreme governance — is banal. If Project 2025 is anything to go by, journalists need to focus more on the boring minutiae of policymaking and not on the sensationalism of politics.”

Mira LoweJournalism education leads the change we seek“Training the next generation of journalists means preparing them to be global citizens.”

Chase DavisNewsrooms break new ground in AI“Our industry has an unfortunate history of having disruptive emerging technologies inflicted upon it, putting us on the defensive and forcing us to begrudgingly adapt. But this time around, it feels like we’re taking some welcome initiative.”

Joni DeutschPodcasting becomes the primary strategy, not an afterthought“At a time where traditional media trust continues to hit historic lows, podcasts can help long-standing organizations establish stronger relationships with audiences and, in the process, drive real change in how people think and engage with the news.”

Gina ChuaGet ready for the AI-driven world of news“We’re largely in the much more mundane business of informing readers about that day’s events. And that’s the work that AI systems will disrupt first.”

Karina MontoyaAntitrust and AI news converge and get local“While compensation deals between AI companies and news publishers may sound good, who gives what and under what conditions depends on bargaining power.”

Anthony NadlerProgressive media at a crossroads“This coming year will see major growth in online progressive media. What’s harder to predict is which communities will see themselves represented in this media. Which communities will hear this media speaking to their experiences and frustrations?”

Kristen MullerPublic media reconciles its past with the present“Preserving public broadcasting in its current form is not an option. So let’s hold hands together and leap.”

Kaitlin C. MillerConflict of interest norms will shift“Journalists are already content creators and even ‘influencers.’ They’re simply asking to get paid for it.”

Andrew LosowskyThe moral injury epidemic“For many organizations, what I’m describing requires culture change. The ‘good’ news is that things are now desperate enough for most that change is the only choice.”

Courtney RadschAdaptive partnerships in the AI data marketplace“With so many competing startups vying to serve this emerging market, there will be lots of opportunities for publishers — and in some cases journalists who have their own newsletters or websites — to experiment.”

Anita LiOutlets pivot to promoting action, not just news“Journalism at its core should be information that’s useful or user-friendly, that helps people navigate their lives on a daily basis, that helps them make decisions impacting their future, that helps them take action.”

Ernest KungAI adoption matures in small and local newsrooms“Why is formalizing AI adoption necessary? Experimentation, while valuable, has its limits.”

Fran WillsLocal media gets its swagger back“Consumers will continue to rely on local reporters that live and work in their community to validate information.”

Francesco ZaffaranoFocus on the people who elect populists“It’s time to admit that we are not fulfilling our core duty and move beyond our comfortable position of self-proclaimed superiority.”

Christoph MergersonYoung journalists will reimagine a better press“The newest generation of journalists will not give in to pessimism about whether their profession still matters in an age of cynicism about the press.”

Gabe SchneiderThe publisher is always right“In 2025, unless we come together as a journalism field and course-correct away from information consolidation controlled by the ultra-wealthy, it will get worse.”

Nik UsherJournalists explain legislative procedure“If civic-affairs news is the broccoli of American journalism, then coverage of legislative procedure is the unsalted lima bean.”

Adam ThomasImpact investment enters the chat“Somewhere in the future, beyond 2025, a flourishing landscape of adequately financed, equitable media enterprises will deliver impactful content, serve diverse communities, and achieve financial independence.”

Alfred HermidaDivergent paths for journalism’s future with AI“The theories of AI as a substituting force or complementary force in the labor market provide a way to chart the choices ahead.”

Alexandra BorchardtNewsrooms reinvent their political journalism“What if reporting on racist, misogynist, dehumanizing opinions and comments has the opposite effect from what most journalists intend — normalizing propaganda and even making political candidates seem interesting?”

Maggie Harrison DupréAI companies grapple with what it means to be creators of news“The media and tech industries, frequently to the dismay of both, are deeply and inextricably intertwined.”

Nick PetrieThe year newsrooms tackle their structural issues“Many publishers remain anchored to hierarchies born in the print era, with editorial at the center and product and technology bolted on as afterthoughts.”

Jessica MaddoxInfluencers become journalists“Joe Rogan is a symptom of changing media systems, not the root cause.”

Cindy RoyalAI inspires innovation in journalism education“It will be the educators’ job to direct students in the most effective ways to use AI to extend their capabilities, not replace them.”

Esther Kezia ThorpeThe print revival comes to news“A ‘finishable’ print product from a trusted source which takes the time to explain and consider news would be right for the growing wave of news avoiders who are overwhelmed by the 24/7 news cycle.”

Sam MintzCommunities relearn the habits of local news“If you’d been elected to some local position in the past year, my call was probably your first time ever dealing with a journalist. That had never been true in my past jobs.”

Ben SmithBack to the bundle“If media companies can’t figure out how to be the bundlers, other layers of the ecosystem — telecoms, devices, social platforms — will.”

Whitney PhillipsReligious-sounding language will be everywhere in 2025“A great deal of language that looks a lot like Christian Nationalism isn’t actually calling for theocracy; it is secular minoritarianism pushed by secular people, often linked to rightwing cable and other media with zero meaningful ties to the church or theological principle.”

Kendall TrammellNewsroom planning goes silo-free“The key is inviting everyone who touches a story from beginning to end to be a part of the conversation.”

Sam GuzikYou’ll need to care more about your value chain“Going into 2025, we need an industry-wide assessment of how our value chain functions because technical and regulatory forces will conspire to make our strategic position less defensible.”

Marie GilotPlay with AI like your career depends on it (it does)“If you are a journalist or a journalism student, you should play with it, a lot, while it’s still open and cheap.”

Ryan KellettYour Audience team is now your Creator team“The standalone Audience team/department/function, as we know it, is dead.”

Brian MoritzSports journalists break away from access-based journalism“2025 will be the year when sports journalists start to really reckon with the fact that teams and players don’t need them anymore.”

Alice MarwickThe mainstream media will lose its last grip on relevancy“The gap between mainstream media readers, people who get most of their news through influencers or partisan social media, and people who barely think about news at all will create a fundamental schism in how Americans see the world.”

Margarita NoriegaMeet the new metrics, same as the old metrics“It won’t be long before AI is used to generate new metrics and new analysis, and to push user behavior further away from curated editorial experiences.”