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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Linda Solomon Wood
Lessons learned in The Building of Lost Causes

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen
Publishers find the AI era not all that lucrative

Millie Tran
Embrace the barbell

“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.”

Taylor Lorenz
Prediction markets go mainstream

“Once the goal is no longer to recreate news organizations as they existed in the past, but rather to ensure that reliable news and information flows — that there is a place in people’s lives for deliberation and debate — then possibility blossoms.”

Heather Chaplin
The rise of informal news networks

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

Ben Smith
Back to the bundle

“When journalists take the time to explain these layers, it signals respect for the intelligence and curiosity of their audience.”

Geetika Rudra, The longform renaissance

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

Nik Usher, Journalists explain legislative procedure

“Podcast super listeners are ready to take things to the next relationship level with their favorite shows.”

Juleyka Lantigua, More small and mid-level podcasts hit the stage

Robin Kwong
Data and context makes a comeback

Jonathan Stray
Newsrooms will keep losing their conservative audiences

Shakeel Hashim
The media reckons with AGI

Maggie Harrison Dupré
AI companies grapple with what it means to be creators of news

“Some pivots, once deemed infeasible, might be worth a second look using new technology.”

David Cohn, AI helps us revisit old journalism territory

“As illiberal regimes take pointers from one another, the sum of their efforts to suppress information is greater than the parts. But two can play at this game.”

Laxmi Parthasarathy, Cross-border collaboration shines light in dark corners

Seth C. Lewis
The expert class confronts reality

Talia Stroud
Meeting people where they are

All predictions in chronological order

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.”

Rasmus Kleis NielsenPublishers find the AI era not all that lucrative“Welcome, surely. Lucrative, in a sense. Game changer? Hardly.”

Millie TranEmbrace the barbell“It’s time to abandon middling stories and go very short or very long.”

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.”

Heather ChaplinThe rise of informal news networks“Once the goal is no longer to recreate news organizations as they existed in the past, but rather to ensure that reliable news and information flows — that there is a place in people’s lives for deliberation and debate — then possibility blossoms.”

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.”

Geetika RudraThe longform renaissance“When journalists take the time to explain these layers, it signals respect for the intelligence and curiosity of their audience.”

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.”

Juleyka LantiguaMore small and mid-level podcasts hit the stage“Podcast super listeners are ready to take things to the next relationship level with their favorite shows.”

Robin KwongData and context makes a comeback“In the quest to remove friction from our everyday lives, we have designed and adopted digital products that narrow our field of vision and traded exploration for convenience.”

Jonathan StrayNewsrooms will keep losing their conservative audiences“It grieves me to predict that even the newsrooms who say they want to serve all Americans won’t do any of this. At best, they will mostly continue to ignore the problem. At worst, some journalists will blame the audience.”

Shakeel HashimThe media reckons with AGI“Rather than treat AGI as a fringe concern, we must be proactive and ambitious: taking the possibility seriously, considering the implications, and starting a public, democratic conversation.”

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.”

David CohnAI helps us revisit old journalism territory“Some pivots, once deemed infeasible, might be worth a second look using new technology.”

Laxmi ParthasarathyCross-border collaboration shines light in dark corners“As illiberal regimes take pointers from one another, the sum of their efforts to suppress information is greater than the parts. But two can play at this game.”

Seth C. LewisThe expert class confronts reality“While perceived authenticity has always been an important piece of evaluating trustworthiness, performed authenticity has become much more important than ever before because of social media.”

Talia StroudMeeting people where they are“Instead of calling for journalists to listen to the public, journalists are asking: Why didn’t America listen to us?”

Sam FordInviting — and making sense of — meaningful participation“How can public engagement be harnessed productively, to provide well-rounded feedback that takes into account ideas, sentiment, and knowledge from throughout the community while still providing cogent insight?”

Julia B. ChanPeople won’t “like” you“Likes are one of the very few ways audiences send us signals across platforms and I don’t think we can count on those hearts in 2025.”

Cristina TardáguilaGetting beyond the fact-check“Journalism’s fight against disinformation risks irrelevance if it fails to consider how the human mind processes and reacts to both falsehoods and facts.”

Jennifer ChoiRedesign news infrastructures to build community power“In optimizing walled gardens of like-minded folks, we’ve forgotten how to create the conditions for us to safely and openly disagree.”

Mari CohenRepression of journalism under the guise of fighting antisemitism“In this environment, it is urgent that news organizations defend their editorial independence, rather than capitulate to these attacks in advance. We must cover these perils accurately.”

Victor PickardMedia reform focuses on state and local initiatives“Democrat-controlled state legislatures could redouble efforts toward working with grassroots groups to support local journalism initiatives. Even some Republican lawmakers might wish to salvage what’s left of rural and small-town newspapers.”

Francisco Vara-OrtaThe quest for diversity evolves“What I hear is a mix of anxiety, resilience, and curiosity — we are journalists, after all — about the back and forth we’ve seen at the ballot box and in the culture wars in recent decades.”

Kevin D. GrantNonprofits step up to hold officials accountable“Amid lingering concerns that nonprofits aren’t winning enough audience to make up for the losses sustained by legacy media, it’s clear that local-national partnerships continue to offer an excellent way forward.”

Justin KosslynEditorially anchored communities“The social topography is a hierarchy of networks, with journalists at the top. Most people are members — not subscribers, not users, but meaningful parts of something larger than themselves.”

Michael RainListening to the quiet majority“The obligations of journalists extend beyond mere reporting; we must encompass the creation of a genuine forum for discourse.”

Maritza L. FélixEl año de las luciérnagas del periodismo comunitario“El presente y el futuro del periodismo es el que se anima a cruzar fronteras; que se desvela y se desnuda, que se permite ser vulnerable, opinar, expresar y querer cambiar.”

Sara MorrisonYou’ll get what you pay for“Free content will be increasingly synonymous with AI slop and other low-quality content that’s barely worth anyone’s time to read, let alone pay to advertise on.”

Susan ChiraReaching the hard-to-reach“We can’t be intimidated by the attacks that are coming. We have to do the rigorous accountability journalism that pisses off people in power.”

Ritvvij ParrikhNewsrooms face a left-brain/right-brain divide“When left-brain thinkers dominate, media products face a value proposition crisis — funnels and operations are optimized, but creativity is stifled.”

Paul CheungJournalism faces its Kobayashi Maru moment“Concurrent challenges create a seemingly impossible situation.”

Sam CholkeNews faces its final unbundling“Every item that could be stripped out because it contained enough value to stand on its own was, sometimes by the very news organizations themselves.”

Andrew DonohueThere will be no second Trump Bump“Some potential donors will be scared of retribution. Some won’t be happy with their investment. Some will just be tired. Some will instead send their money to things like Trump’s inauguration party.”

Joanne McNeilFollowers stop following“The internet itself is now flooded with careless content, AI-generated or otherwise, and the effort to sift through it doesn’t pay off like it used to.”

Emma Carew GrovumLocal newsrooms get a boost from data collaborations“It’s not enough to just drop something into the laps of local teams and hope they’ll use it exactly as-is.”

Lela SavicIt’s time to redefine sustainability“We need mission-based funding — financial support that reflects our mission, not one that forces us to conform to commercial models that don’t work for us.”

Sarah MarshallFocus on the “flabby middle” of the audience funnel“Audiences need to ‘try before they buy.'”

Matt WaiteThe year we put everything on the table“What’s the point of the exercise here? Is it to inform people, or to show off what we know and how sophisticated we sound?”

Elena Herrero-BeaumontEthical state funding for the press“To ensure state funding includes effective safeguards, several countries have developed schemes that could serve as potential best practices.”

Dmitry ShishkinWhy 2025 is all about user needs“Audience engagement has been narrowly tackled by our industry for far too long, often treated as a side initiative rather than a central purpose of journalism.”

Thomas BaekdalShould we predict or define?“Any time you hear about publishers using AI to produce journalism as if it’s factory output, that’s when you know they’ll have a bad year ahead.”

Damon KrukowskiFollowing utter failure“Far too many in this country were uninformed, misinformed, or simply lied to about the topics that journalism is meant to communicate clearly, truthfully, and widely.”

Lynn WalshFocusing on what people actually need“For too long, newsrooms have created content based on their own routines, preferences, and platforms, churning out long stories or endless updates without really thinking about what the audience wants — or can keep up with.”

Julia MunslowContent creators find a place in newsrooms“Ask someone in your life under 40 where they get the news. Odds are they’ll mention a non-newsroom podcaster or YouTuber.”

J. Siguru WahutuMedia owners will protect the powerful“To be clear, many within these organizations have already shown a willingness to hold back in favor of access to political elites — so these actions by owners and CEOs will be more of an alignment of goals than a top-down push.”

A.J. BauerRight-wing studies’ time has come“Factual accuracy is a necessary but insufficient goal of professional journalism. Journalists need to compile facts into a vision of reality that is more compelling than that offered by right-wing media and by Donald Trump.”

Mael VallejoWe’ll stop looking down on content creators“We can continue to complain about this new generation of content creators and how those in power use them to amplify their messages of hate — or we can adapt and fight for truth, freedom of expression, and democracy.”

Mar CabraWe harness listening to build collective resilience“We need to have deep conversations about how we are doing, not just water cooler moments in the newsroom.”

Robert HernandezWe’ll draw the lines we will not cross“This year, I predict that you — yes, you — will stand up, speak up, and do the right thing for the communities we aim to serve.”

Rachel LobdellBuilding new ways to get information to readers“This moment will inevitably require newsrooms, and journalists, to change. But when hasn’t that been the case?”

Renée KaplanNewsrooms confront lies and win“Newsrooms will need to create new products in the broadening domain of what used to be called fact-checking.”

Juanita IslasJournalists keep getting harassed“Journalists have been dehumanized and treated as enemies when they are truly in service of society, shining a light on what is happening in the world around us.”

Nancy WatzmanPhilanthropy steps up for local news“The facts about the current state of the news business are well known — to the point where they’re not exactly news.”

Shira T. CenterJournalists will learn to stop worrying and love the business plan“Journalists will continue to take matters into their own hands — or spreadsheets — either as entrepreneurs striking out on their own or innovators in established and legacy institutions.”

John SaroffVideo-first “podcasts” bring a new kind of coverage“It will combine compelling imagery, quality news gathering, and timely reporting to bring the clarity and scope we currently expect from television news directly to our personal devices.”

Traci MabreyTraceability becomes table stakes for AI“If we are to reap the rewards that AI can afford us, we will need to be able to source the origin of information down to the very last word.”

Artem FishmanRecalibrating on AI’s promise“The industry will need to sift through the irrational exuberance around AI and drive more discipline around spend.”

P. Kim BuiThe death of the media darling“2025 will be a year with fewer shooting stars, but we’ll start building constellations in a broader night sky.”

Ståle GrutVisual investigations become a mainstay of news“Visual investigations are poised to move from niche desks to standard operating procedure in newsrooms in 2025.”

Natalia VianaAll eyes are on Brazil“If humanity is to overcome the unprecedented threat of weaponized disinformation and digital populism, Brazil is an essential fort to be held.”

Joe AmditisWe stop excusing the lack of accessibility in news“Alt text not only makes the content accessible but also enhances search engine optimization and improves the newsroom’s reach. It also just makes your news organization look like you have your shit together.”

Noah ShachtmanMedia’s acquiescence to Trump will fail“There’s no evidence that moving to a both-sidesy middle will bring in new readers, and plenty of evidence it won’t.”

Parker MolloyThe media surrenders to Trump 2.0“They’re choosing compliance with eyes wide open, trading their watchdog role for a seat at the billionaire’s table.”

Jennifer BrandelPrepare for the unthinkable“It’s not fun to contemplate death, I know.”

Jason KoeblerDeclaring platform independence“The fracturing of the internet has been painful, but it’s also given us the chance to rebuild the media by focusing on our shared humanity.”

James SalangaInvesting in the disability beat“Using the right language isn’t the be-all and end-all of better disability reporting.”

Benjamin Morales MeléndezAI revolutionizes access to multilingual content“AI drastically reduces translation costs while enhancing quality, far superior to basic translation services and without needing an army of translators limited by their daily output.”

Annemarie DoolingNews jumps off the page“The next phase of our work as newsrooms must be in looking to joyous experiences.”

Tania L. MontalvoHow do we cover “people like me”?“2025 should be an opportunity to ask ourselves if we are in a position to cover people fairly.”

Jasmine McNealyPublishers reckon with dark patterns“News organizations will have to reckon with their use of designs that place them in the same categories as annoying sales sites and scammers.”

Sumi AggarwalMore newsrooms will partner with student journalists“They provide reporting power, youthful energy, and diverse viewpoints that can help expand audiences.”

Amy Mitchell

Amy MitchellDouble down on journalistic independence“The U.S. isn’t immune to this risk and the loss of protections for independent journalism we’ve guarded for so long. Perhaps this has been a very needed wakeup call.”

Amy Schmitz WeissJournalism educators unite“As the overall news industry continues to face more cuts and the less-is-more strategy in 2025, journalism educators will need to continue to be realistic about how to best prepare students for the future profession.”

Saba LongThe media industry adopts an insurgent strategy“Insurgents succeed because they know exactly what they are fighting against.”

Kawandeep VirdeeNew dimensions for news storytelling“The bold headline grabs your attention, and then becomes a gateway to deeper exploration and understanding.”

Scott LambReaders will seek out well-moderated spaces“There are good comments sections online, but they’re never an accident.”

Andrea Faye HartBreaking old habits“If hospital and prison chaplaincy work taught me anything, it’s that, unfortunately, crisis is a precursor to this kind of change.”

Carrie BrownThe darkness that democracy dies in is here“This election was decided in no small part by voters who believed a number of false things about the candidates and the country. The Fourth Estate has failed.”

Hillary FreyThere’s no “Trump Bump” (and that’s good!)“We don’t need to sustain our astonishment or tap into our own panic and worry every time he says or does something heretofore unfathomable. (After all, it’s all fathomable now?)”

Retha HillJournalists build the AI tools they actually want to use“Journalists who were and remain rightfully skeptical of AI and its impact on our profession — from eliminating jobs to adding to the public’s souring on our trustworthiness — are starting to build stuff. Good stuff.”

S. Mitra KalitaWe’ll rethink scale, trust, and our life’s work“There is a single crisis in journalism, and from it all other problems emanate: money.”

Chitranshu TewariUsing AI to make news more accessible“AI-driven accessibility isn’t only better product design but also good business.”

Jonathan HuntMedia companies will love their websites a lot less“Websites aren’t where audiences or advertisers are increasingly investing their time or budgets. The patterns in traffic and ad dollars say as much.”

Benjamin ToffAn authoritarian anti-journalism playbook“The best, most rigorous journalism in the world is powerless to effect change unless it reaches and is trusted by the wider public — however profitable it may be to serve a niche, hyper-engaged subset of the public.”

AX MinaWe can’t predict the future — but it’s essential to plan for it“In our increasingly complex world, to really think about the future of news, we have to think across disciplines: technology platforms, youth trends, global public health, and civic institutions.”

Burt HermanThe year we stop talking about “AI”“Rather than worrying about AI taking away jobs or isolating us further in society, the best media products will help us connect and be more human.”

Izabella KaminskaJournalism faces a reckoning, in Soviet style“Much like the state-controlled media systems of the late Soviet Union, the mainstream media has become the nomenklatura of our era — privileged, insular, and increasingly out of touch with the realities of the populations they claim to serve.”

Katie HonanThe federal attack on the press will trickle down locally“Journalists will continue to need to be more thoughtful and report news not like a season of ‘Survivor: City Hall’ but on the larger issues with longer-term effects.”

Sharon MoshaviWe’ll reach beyond our own lane“We need to seek out these journalist-adjacent actors who share the same goal as many newsrooms of delivering actionable, trustworthy news and information to people.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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?”

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.”

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.”

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

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.”

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.”

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.”