Summary Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2023 | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
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In 2023, news media faces challenges of inflation and reduced spending, but publishers are countering news avoidance by providing hope, inspiration, and utility, while also investing in digital subscriptions and platforms like TikTok and YouTube, and prioritizing climate emergency coverage, AI integration, and sustainability.
Slides
Slide Presentation (11 slides)
Key Points
- The sustainability of news media is a concern due to inflation, uncertainty, and news avoidance.
- Big Tech platforms like Facebook and Twitter are struggling to retain audiences, while TikTok is gaining popularity.
- AI presents both opportunities and challenges for journalism, including personalized information delivery and ethical questions.
- News organizations that have not embraced digital will be at a disadvantage.
- Publishers are diversifying revenue streams and focusing on digital subscriptions and memberships.
- News avoidance is a growing concern, and publishers are exploring solutions like explanatory journalism and Q&A formats.
- Climate coverage is being prioritized, with specialized teams and integration into other areas of journalism.
- TikTok's rise is causing concern for other social media platforms, while Twitter's future is uncertain.
Summaries
53 word summary
News media sustainability concerns will rise in 2023 due to inflation and reduced spending. Publishers combat news avoidance by offering hope, inspiration, and utility. Facebook and Twitter face user loss while publishers invest in digital subscriptions and focus on TikTok and YouTube. The news industry prioritizes climate emergency coverage, AI integration, and sustainability.
75 word summary
Concerns over news media sustainability will increase in 2023 due to inflation and reduced household spending. Publishers must offer more hope, inspiration, and utility to combat news avoidance. Facebook and Twitter face pressure as older users lose interest and younger users flock to platforms like TikTok. Publishers are investing in digital subscriptions, partnering with tech platforms, and focusing on TikTok and YouTube. The news industry is reevaluating climate emergency coverage, integrating AI, and prioritizing sustainability.
107 word summary
Concerns about the sustainability of news media are expected to increase in 2023 due to inflation, uncertainty, and a squeeze on household spending. To combat news avoidance and disconnection, publishers need to provide more hope, inspiration, and utility in their offerings. Big Tech platforms like Facebook and Twitter are facing pressure as older users become bored and younger users migrate to new networks like TikTok. Publishers are investing in digital subscriptions and memberships, exploring partnerships with tech platforms, and shifting attention to platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The news industry is rethinking its coverage of the climate emergency, integrating AI technologies, and taking steps to improve sustainability.
678 word summary
Concerns about the sustainability of news media are expected to increase in 2023 due to inflation, uncertainty, and a squeeze on household spending. To address this issue, publishers may need to provide more hope, inspiration, and utility in their offerings to combat news avoidance and disconnection resulting from fear and uncertainty.
Big Tech platforms like Facebook and Twitter are facing pressure as older users become bored and younger users migrate to new networks like TikTok. The hope is that the next wave of applications will prioritize connections and content that benefit society rather than fueling outrage. Artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities and challenges for journalism, allowing for more personalized information but also raising existential and ethical questions.
News organizations that have not fully embraced digital will be at a severe disadvantage in the coming years. Rising costs, lower interest from advertisers, and a softening in subscriptions are major concerns. To counter news avoidance, publishers plan to focus on explainer content, Q&A formats, and inspirational stories. They are also investing in digital subscriptions and memberships, expecting some growth in subscription and paid content income.
Publishers are diversifying their revenue streams, with many expecting significant revenue from tech platforms for content licensing or innovation. However, concerns exist about new rules that could restrict journalism. Publishers plan to shift attention from Facebook and Twitter to TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Twitter's potential implosion under Elon Musk's leadership has led some to view it as a negative influence on journalism, while LinkedIn has emerged as a popular alternative.
The news industry is rethinking its coverage of the climate emergency by creating specialist climate teams and integrating climate coverage into other areas. There is increased investment in podcasts, digital audio, email newsletters, and digital video formats. AI is being integrated into news products to deliver personalized experiences. More newspapers are expected to switch to online-only models, and broadcasters may consider turning off linear transmissions due to declining audiences.
Digital subscriptions and bundling offer hope for publishers as ad revenue declines. Publishers are focusing on retaining existing subscribers through price cuts, special offers, and bundling additional features. Multiple revenue streams remain important, with some publishers receiving significant revenue from tech platforms for content licensing. Publisher alliances are being formed to collect first-party data and compete with platforms for attention and advertising.
News avoidance is a growing concern, with users actively avoiding the news due to negativity, repetition, lack of trust, and feelings of powerlessness. Publishers are exploring ways to address this, including explanatory journalism, Q&A formats, and solutions journalism. Initiatives that allow readers to control the amount of positive or negative news they consume are being implemented.
Publishers are hiring more staff to cover different aspects of the climate crisis and integrating climate coverage into other areas. Initiatives that focus on human stories and solutions journalism are gaining momentum. Publishers are also taking steps to improve sustainability and increase awareness through training programs.
TikTok's popularity is causing concern for Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Twitter, leading publishers to shift their focus to TikTok and YouTube. Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has raised concerns about platform integrity. Journalists still rely on Twitter for real-time news, but some believe it has contributed to the spread of misinformation. LinkedIn is emerging as a potential alternative to Twitter. The future of Facebook's news tab is uncertain as the company reorients itself towards mobile entertainment and commerce.
Publishers are exploring ways to address news avoidance and allow readers to control their online experience. The use of AI technologies in journalism is transforming content creation and production processes, but ethical and regulatory concerns exist.
In summary, the news industry faces uncertainty with rising costs and a squeeze on household spending. News organizations need to embrace digital and diversify revenue streams. They should focus on providing more hopeful and useful content to combat news avoidance. Publishers are investing in digital subscriptions and memberships, exploring partnerships with tech platforms, and shifting attention to platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The industry is also rethinking climate coverage, integrating AI technologies, and taking steps to improve sustainability.
681 word summary
Concerns about the sustainability of news media are expected to increase in 2023 due to inflation, uncertainty, and a squeeze on household spending. The public's fear and uncertainty resulting from events like the invasion of Ukraine, global warming, and the COVID pandemic have led to news avoidance and disconnection. Publishers may need to rethink their offerings by providing more hope, inspiration, and utility to address this issue.
Big Tech platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, are facing pressure as older users become bored and younger users migrate to new networks like TikTok. The hope is that the next wave of applications will prioritize connections and content that benefit society rather than fueling outrage and anger. Artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for journalism, allowing publishers to deliver more personalized information and formats, but also raising existential and ethical questions.
News organizations that have not fully embraced digital will be at a severe disadvantage in the coming years. Rising costs, lower interest from advertisers, and a softening in subscriptions are major concerns for media leaders. To counter increasing news avoidance, publishers plan to focus on explainer content, Q&A formats, and inspirational stories. More publishers are investing in digital subscriptions and memberships, expecting some growth in subscription and paid content income.
Publishers are diversifying their revenue streams, with many expecting significant revenue from tech platforms for content licensing or innovation. However, concerns exist about new rules that could restrict journalism. Publishers plan to shift attention from Facebook and Twitter to TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Twitter's potential implosion under Elon Musk's leadership has led some to view it as a negative influence on journalism, while LinkedIn has emerged as a popular alternative.
The news industry is rethinking its coverage of the climate emergency by creating specialist climate teams and integrating climate coverage into other areas. There is increased investment in podcasts, digital audio, email newsletters, and digital video formats. AI is being integrated into news products to deliver personalized experiences. More newspapers are expected to switch to online-only models, and broadcasters may consider turning off linear transmissions due to declining audiences and competition from streamers.
Digital subscriptions and bundling offer hope for publishers as ad revenue declines. Publishers are focusing on retaining existing subscribers through price cuts, special offers, and bundling additional features. Multiple revenue streams remain important, with some publishers receiving significant revenue from tech platforms for content licensing. Publisher alliances are being formed to collect first-party data and compete with platforms for attention and advertising.
News avoidance is a growing concern, with users actively avoiding the news due to negativity, repetition, lack of trust, and feelings of powerlessness. Publishers are exploring ways to address this, including explanatory journalism, Q&A formats, and solutions journalism. Initiatives that allow readers to control the amount of positive or negative news they consume are being implemented.
Publishers are hiring more staff to cover different aspects of the climate crisis and integrating climate coverage into other areas. Initiatives that focus on human stories and solutions journalism are gaining momentum. Publishers are also taking steps to improve sustainability and increase awareness through training programs.
TikTok's popularity is causing concern for Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Twitter, leading publishers to shift their focus to TikTok and YouTube. Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has raised concerns about platform integrity. Journalists still rely on Twitter for real-time news, but some believe it has contributed to the spread of misinformation. LinkedIn is emerging as a potential alternative to Twitter. The future of Facebook's news tab is uncertain as the company reorients itself towards mobile entertainment and commerce.
The amount of time spent online has declined, suggesting we may have reached peak internet. Publishers are exploring ways to address news avoidance and allow readers to control their online experience. The use of AI technologies in journalism is transforming content creation and production processes, but ethical and regulatory concerns exist.
The prevailing mood in the news industry is one of uncertainty, with rising costs and a squeeze on household spending. News organizations that have completed their digital transition and have diversified revenue streams are best
1184 word summary
The year 2023 is expected to bring heightened concerns about the sustainability of news media due to inflation, uncertainty, and a squeeze on household spending. The invasion of Ukraine, the impact of global warming, and the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic have created fear and uncertainty among the public. While journalism has thrived in these conditions, the relentless and depressing nature of the news agenda has turned many people away. Publishers may need to rethink their offerings to address news avoidance and disconnection by offering more hope, inspiration, and utility.
In addition to economic challenges, Big Tech platforms are also facing pressure. First-generation social networks like Facebook and Twitter are struggling to retain audiences as older people become bored and younger users migrate to new networks like TikTok. There is hope that the next set of applications will prioritize connections and content that are good for society rather than delivering outrage and anger. The next wave of technical innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), presents both opportunities and challenges for journalism. AI offers the chance for publishers to deliver more personalized information and formats, but it also raises existential and ethical questions.
News organizations that have not fully embraced digital will be at a severe disadvantage in the coming years. Media leaders express less confidence about their business prospects compared to the previous year, with rising costs, lower interest from advertisers, and a softening in subscriptions being major concerns. Many publishers are worried about increasing news avoidance, particularly around important but often depressing topics like Ukraine and climate change. To counter this, publishers plan to focus on explainer content, Q&A formats, and inspirational stories. More publishers are investing in digital subscriptions and memberships, with the majority expecting some growth in subscription and paid content income.
Publishers are also diversifying their revenue streams. A significant number expect to get significant revenue from tech platforms for content licensing or innovation. However, concerns exist about new rules that could make it harder for journalists and news organizations to publish stories that governments don't like. Publishers plan to put less attention on Facebook and Twitter and focus on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The potential implosion of Twitter under Elon Musk's leadership has led some to view it as a negative influence on journalism, while LinkedIn has emerged as the most popular alternative.
The news industry is rethinking its coverage of the climate emergency, with many publishers creating specialist climate teams and integrating climate coverage into other areas. There is increased investment in podcasts, digital audio, email newsletters, and digital video formats. AI is being integrated into news products to deliver more personalized experiences. More newspapers are expected to stop daily print production and switch to online-only models. Broadcasters may talk openly about turning off linear transmissions as audiences decline and competition from streamers increases.
Digital subscriptions and bundling offer hope for publishers as ad revenue declines. Publishers are focusing on retaining existing subscribers through price cuts, special offers, and bundling additional features. They are also emphasizing their journalistic values and exploring product extensions. Multiple revenue streams remain important, with some publishers receiving significant revenue from tech platforms for content licensing. Publisher alliances are being formed to collect first-party data and compete with platforms for attention and advertising.
The amount of time spent online has declined, suggesting we may have reached peak internet. News avoidance is a growing concern, with users actively avoiding the news due to negativity, repetition, lack of trust, and feelings of powerlessness. Publishers are exploring ways to address this, including explanatory journalism, Q&A formats, and solutions journalism. Initiatives that allow readers to control the amount of positive or negative news they consume are being implemented. Tools to help audiences take control of their online experience are also being developed.
News media coverage of the climate emergency is undergoing a step change, with enhanced specialist teams and strategies for sustainable journalism. Publishers are hiring more staff to cover different aspects of the crisis and are integrating climate coverage into other areas. Initiatives that focus on human stories and solutions journalism are gaining momentum. Publishers are also taking steps to improve sustainability and increase awareness through training programs.
The rise of TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is causing concern for Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Twitter. TikTok's popularity is leading to a decline in Facebook's user base and ad revenue, as well as Google's search traffic. Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has also caused controversy, with concerns about platform integrity and the role of verified sources. Publishers are shifting their focus from Facebook and Twitter to TikTok and YouTube, as video platforms are proving to be effective in engaging younger users. Despite concerns about Musk, journalists still rely on Twitter for real-time news and connecting with sources. However, some believe that the platform has contributed to the spread of misinformation and reduced traffic to mainstream websites. There is no obvious replacement for Twitter, but LinkedIn is emerging as a potential alternative. The future of Facebook's news tab is uncertain, as the company reorients itself towards mobile entertainment and commerce. The introduction of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act in the European Union will impose new limits on tech companies' activities. Google executives have revealed that young people are turning to Instagram and TikTok for search purposes instead of using Google's own products. TikTok is facing increased regulatory pressure due to concerns about misinformation and data privacy. The emergence of AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, is transforming the debate around AI in journalism. These technologies have the potential to automate content creation and enhance media production processes. However, there are ethical and regulatory concerns regarding the use of AI in journalism. Publishers are focusing on podcasts, newsletters, and digital video to engage audiences and build deeper connections. Local newsletters are becoming popular, with low-cost models providing a blueprint for the future of local media. Twitter has discontinued its newsletter product Revue, but LinkedIn is gaining traction as an alternative platform for newsletters. There is growing confidence in product development processes within news organizations, but frustration remains over the pace of change. AI technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing, are being used to enhance news production processes and improve personalization and content recommendations. Virtual presenters are being embraced by broadcast companies, offering cost savings and enhancing the presence of popular anchors. The debate over the regulation of AI is intensifying, with concerns about deep fakes and the need for ethical guidelines. The prevailing mood in the news industry is one of uncertainty, with economic indicators pointing to rising costs and a squeeze on household spending. News organizations that have completed their digital transition and have diversified revenue streams are best positioned to weather the storm. Consolidation, layoffs, and partnerships are expected in the industry. The next few years will be defined by the transformation of digital content to meet specific audience needs, with AI technologies playing a significant role. However, journalism will need to emphasize its human qualities and track record of delivering trusted content to stand out from automated and synthetic media.