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Newsroom Headwinds: The Problems Faced by Publishers In 2025

Jan 10, 2025 - mediapost.com
The Reuters Institute's global study, "Journalism and Technology Trends and Predictions," highlights significant challenges faced by newsrooms at the start of 2025, including political attacks, economic issues, and the threat of AI-driven platforms on intellectual property. Confidence among news organizations has dropped to 41%, with concerns over declining search referrals and social media platform effectiveness. Despite these challenges, 56% of organizations feel optimistic about their business prospects, and there is a growing interest in AI for back-end automation and content distribution. However, skepticism remains towards platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, while efforts are increasing towards OpenAI/Perplexity and YouTube.

The study also reveals a shift towards collective licensing deals with tech and AI companies, with 72% favoring industry-wide agreements. Confidence in attracting and retaining talent varies across roles, with editorial positions showing higher confidence compared to data science and software engineering. News organizations are focusing on digital subscriptions, with 45% reporting slight increases and 28% significant growth. Revenue streams are primarily driven by subscriptions, advertising, and events, while new product development and strengthening existing offerings are key priorities for 2025. The survey, conducted among 326 senior publishing personnel from 51 countries, underscores the evolving landscape of journalism amid technological advancements and alternative news ecosystems.

Key takeaways:

  • Confidence among news organizations has decreased to 41% in 2025, with concerns about AI-driven platforms impacting intellectual property and visibility.
  • Newsrooms are increasingly focusing on AI for back-end automation, distribution, and content creation, despite challenges from alternative news ecosystems.
  • Subscription/membership remains the most important revenue stream, with 77% of organizations relying on ongoing payments.
  • There is a growing interest in collective licensing deals with tech and AI companies, with 72% of respondents favoring industry-wide agreements.
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