The beginning of a new year is often a time to take stock and consider what should be nurtured in the coming months, and what needs to be abandoned. 

As 2025 drew to a close, PIJI gathered insight from the journalism community on their thoughts and hopes for what the future may hold for the industry – and what must be done to ensure the good changes outweigh the bad. 

Give us less: 

News media workers that responded to PIJI’s survey overwhelmingly want facts to be put at the forefront of journalism again. 

Opinion pieces and commentary have their place, but many survey respondents show concern over an increasing overlap with news. 

They call for a ‘back-to-basics’ approach, ensuring opinions are not presented as facts. 

Clickbait headlines and aggressively-pursued angles can easily fan the flames of already heated debates. 

Survey respondents have had enough, telling PIJI they want to see less “sensationalised” stories deepening divides and “hatred” in the community. 

Give us more: 

As clickbait abounds and AI becomes more embedded into everyday practice, survey respondents want journalists to take a more a fact-based approach.  

They want journalists to be armed with in-depth research, as well as willingness to place nothing above scrutiny and to follow up on serious issues beyond the 24-hour news cycle. 

National and international stories tend to take the limelight, but many survey respondents signalled a thirst for more original, in-depth community news. 

With movement finally happening on the News Media Assistance Program and the News Bargaining Incentive, survey respondents are seeking further progress on these initiatives so news publishers may gain some financial relief – particularly small, local outlets. 

Direct government support in form such of ad spend and infrastructure investment is also sought after, along with more transparency in response to media enquiries. 

Reading the coffee grounds: 

When asked to predict trends in journalism for 2026, several survey respondents highlighted AI.  

Usage of the technology in the industry appears to be broadly expected to increase, performing tasks from admin, to research, to writing and editing. 

Some respondents pointed out the potential positives, such as journalists in smaller newsrooms being able to offload smaller tasks to focus on producing news, while others said increased reliance on AI risks more errors and increased scepticism from audiences wary of potential AI usage. 

With social media and search engines continuing to vacuum clicks, news publishers are expected to continue to pivot to alternative avenues of dissemination to build and maintain audiences. 

Survey respondents said these will likely take the forms of podcasts, newsletters and apps.  

Written by Sezen Bakan