With many publishers launching new daily news podcasts, it is perhaps not surprising that the majority (75%) think that audio will become a more important part of their content and commercial strategies.Most see increased personalisation as a critical pathway to the future (73%). Over three-quarters (78%) think it is important to invest more in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help secure the future of journalism – but not as an alternative to employing more editors.Over half (56%) are concerned about levels of newsroom diversity. Retaining (73%) and attracting (74%) staff is a particular headache, given the low rates of pay, relentless pace and pressures of a modern newsroom. Almost two thirds (61%) are concerned or extremely concerned about staff burnout.Less than half of respondents (43%) say the platform is likely to be important or extremely important this year, a similar number to Apple News and YouTube – but far less than for Google (87%). The news industry is losing patience with Facebook and publishers are re-focusing attention elsewhere.A further 29% of publisher respondents is not expecting any of the above to ride to their rescue. Almost a third (29%) expect to see significant help this year from foundations and non-profits, a fifth (18%) expect tech platforms to contribute more, while one in ten (11%) think governments will provide more support. At the same time, there seems to be a growing acceptance that some types of quality news provision might need to be subsidised.This is a huge change of focus for the industry. Over half (52%) expect this to be the MAIN revenue focus in 2019, compared with just 27% for display advertising, 8% for native advertising and 7% for donations. Subscription and membership is the key priority for the news industry going forward.In our survey of 200 editors, CEOs, and digital leaders: It is a crucial year social media platforms have to prove they care about the truth and about paying for serious journalism, or be properly forced to do both by regulation. Taken together these trends are likely to lead to the biggest wave of journalistic lay-offs in years – weakening further the ability of publishers to hold populist politicians and powerful business leaders to account. Publishers are looking to subscriptions to make up the difference but the limits of this are likely to become apparent in 2019. Journalism will continue to be hollowed out by structural shifts that have already led to significant falls in advertising revenue. Meanwhile the spread of false, misleading and extreme content will continue to undermine democracies around the world with polarising elections in India, Indonesia and Europe likely flashpoints. Something once considered unthinkable has become ‘inevitable’, in the words of Apple boss Tim Cook – though the details will be messy, hard-fought, and take time to play out. ![]() This will be the year when the regulation of platform companies starts to bite following growing concern about misinformation, privacy, and market power.
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