The World Press Trends Outlook 2024-2025, 30th edition of an annual report by WAN-IFRA (World Association of News Publishers), offers a comprehensive look at the opportunities and challenges confronting news publishers worldwide. Based on a survey of over 240 senior media executives from 85 countries around the world, the report identifies key trends that will shape the industry’s future and provides valuable insights to guide strategic decision-making. The findings highlight a mix of optimism and caution as news publishers navigate an evolving media landscape characterized by declining print revenues, digital growth, and the rising impact of artificial intelligence.
The findings can help media professionals understand the changing dynamics of the industry.
One of the most alarming findings in the report is the increasing threat to press freedom globally. In 2024, nearly 100 journalists were killed, with WAN-IFRA’s new research highlighting a sharp rise in online harassment scoring 52percent, and 51 percent in cyberattacks. The situation is particularly dire in developing markets, where journalists often operate under restrictive legal environments and face significant online and in-person safety risks.
The report stresses the need for media organizations to invest in digital safety training, cybersecurity measures, and advocacy efforts to protect journalists and maintain editorial independence.
Regulatory actions and platform policies are also impacting media freedom, with some publishers expressing concerns over algorithmic bias and content moderation decisions (or lack thereof) made by major tech platforms.
The World Press Trends Outlook also shows a gradual decline of print.
For the first time, print revenue has dropped below the 50%-mark, accounting for just under 45% of total publisher income. This is down from 57.5% in 2023. While this decline signals a continued shift toward digital, print remains an important source of revenue, especially in markets such as Japan and India, where print readership remains significant.
Despite the drop in revenue from print, many publishers are adopting a hybrid approach, balancing print and digital to serve diverse audiences, depending on preferences.
On Digital revenue, the report indicates a steady growth, but insufficient. It says Digital revenue now makes up 31% of total revenue, marking a 7% year-on-year increase. Subscriptions, paywalls, and monetization of digital content — such as podcasts and newsletters are driving this growth.
However, digital growth alone is not sufficient to offset the steep declines in print revenue.
The report suggests that publishers refine their digital strategies, focusing on personalized content, dynamic paywall models, and audience segmentation to optimize their digital efforts and to effectively monetize them.
In this regard, Diversifying revenue streams is essential and a strategic imperative. The report indicates that income streams are proving to be critical for long-term sustainability, offering publishers new ways to engage their audiences and generate revenue beyond traditional advertising and subscriptions.
Artificial Intelligence, AI are changing the game, but challenges persist, AI is increasingly transforming newsroom operations, from automating workflows to enabling personalized content recommendations and audience insights, AI is proving to be a valuable tool for publishers. However, the report reiterates that only 13% of media leaders believe their organizations are well-prepared to fully integrate AI into their operations.
Key challenges also include copyright concerns, ethical considerations, and the need for newsroom-wide adoption.
Besides, AI adoption varies by region, with developing markets facing greater hurdles due to limited technical infrastructure and expertise.
The World Press Trends Outlook highlights that despite the challenges outlined in the report, optimism among publishers is on the rise, with 61% of respondents expressing confidence about their business prospects in the next 12 months.
Credit: World Association of News Publishers