The editor of eCCO Magazine would like to draw readers’ attention to the article “Journalism embattled but unbowed”, published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Written by others, quoted by us:
Journalism embattled but unbowed
While many publishers have confidence in their own news organisations, this year’s survey shows an alarming decline in confidence in journalism in just a few short years. Only four in ten (41%) say they are confident, down 19pp from the figure in our 2022 poll. The proportion that says they are not confident has risen from 10% to 17% over the same period.
It’s not difficult to see why this is happening. Across the world – and especially in societies that have become increasingly polarised – prominent politicians have been attacking or looking to undermine independent journalists, scrutinising their actions with threats, lawsuits, or worse. In a growing number of countries existing or new legislation, including national-security type laws, is being used to make it harder or more dangerous for journalists to operate.
But it is not just direct attacks. Politicians are increasingly finding ways to bypass the media entirely. In the recent US election, the two main candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris largely avoided mainstream news outlets, preferring to use their own channels or talk with alternative sources such as podcasters or YouTubers. In Trump’s case, key messages were then amplified by a network of social media outriders.4 ‘The Trump victory has confirmed the media influence in the public is deteriorating rapidly, even more than we thought,’ says Emilio Doménech, CEO of Watif in Spain.
These tactics have proved particularly effective at engaging those who rarely access (and have low trust in) the established media – and not just in the United States. Calin Georgescu rose from near obscurity to top the poll in the first round of the Romanian presidential election, fuelled by a combination of populist, anti-establishment rhetoric and a hugely successful social media campaign, principally via TikTok.5 His account showed him horse riding, vigorously exercising, and attending church, and he largely avoided media set pieces such as TV debates. Accusations of foreign (Russian) interference means that the elections will now be rerun but it is far from clear that the result was not a reflection of the popular mood.
Of course, the undermining of the news media doesn’t just come from politicians: ‘You are the media now’, said Elon Musk, suggesting that posts on his social media platform are now as credible as content from traditional news outlets. With mainstream media hampered by low trust and difficult economics, this chorus of criticism could prove hard to counter this year.
Around 2,500 jobs were lost in 2024 in major markets according to Press Gazette, following around 8,000 the previous year. The Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, Daily Mail, Vox, Axios, and the Daily Maverick are just some of the brands affected.
Television news faces a year of downsizing around the world as audience attention shifts to streaming platforms. In the United States CNN is braced for hundreds of layoffs and has lost around a third of its audience since the election. Public broadcasters are also struggling to attract audiences for traditional news shows and many also face attacks from mostly right-wing politicians and ‘defund’ pressure groups. In Switzerland public broadcaster SRG SSR is facing another referendum which threatens to cuts its funding in half. The BBC is amongst those to have cut staff and key news programmes in 2024.
Despite this, over half of our survey respondents (56%), many of whom represent richer subscription-based publishers in Northern Europe or the United States, remain confident about their business prospects despite the tough economic and political outlook.
Sentiment amongst publishers, overall, remains defiant, with a strong belief that at times of uncertainty independent journalism will be more important than ever. Persuading audiences of that in an increasingly hostile and polarised environment will be the key challenge for the year ahead.
What may happen this year
- Trump steps up attacks on the news media: Donald Trump has threatened to cancel broadcast licences of TV networks over ‘unfair’ coverage and to jail journalists who refuse to reveal sources. These threats may not be carried out, but the rhetoric could have a chilling effect on media coverage. Trump is likely to restrict access for mainstream journalists, potentially even in the White House briefing room, and cosy up further to supportive ‘alternative’ media. Federal funding to public broadcasters will be likely be cut along with that for non-profits engaged in fact-checking, which Trump considers to be censorship.
- News media get less confrontational: Expect to see a different approach this time round, with less media outrage about Trump’s lies and more coverage of the impact of his policies. The non-endorsement of Kamala Harris by the Washington Post may also be a sign that some owners may not be willing to put their wider commercial interests in the firing line over the next four years, despite a wave of cancellations from digital subscribers and the resignation of prominent columnists.6
- Trump playbook replayed elsewhere: Populist politicians around the world have taken note and are busy building and incentivising alternative networks to amplify their messages through digital channels. Expect claims of foreign interference (as in Romania, Germany) to become an increasing focus for security services, with more pressure on platforms at election time.
Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism