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What’s coming for news in 2026? These predictions offer a clue

Nieman Lab · Joshua Benton · last updated

For 16 years now, we’ve asked smart people what they think will happen in the coming year in the world of journalism and digital media. And this year’s collection of predictions, published last month, is the biggest — and, I think, the best — yet. (I may be uniquely qualified to make that judgment, as I am certainly the only human to have read all 1,881 predictions we’ve ever published.)

But I’m certainly aware that sorting through all those predictions — 210 this year — can be a lot. Every year, there are nuggets of gold that don’t get the attention I think they deserve, and it can be hard to determine a prediction’s topic from a headline alone.

So to help you find the ones that might be most valuable to you, I’ve divided those 210 predictions into 21 categories: AI slop and disinformation, AI strategy, AI tools and workflows, audience fatigue, business models, collaboration and ecosystems, coverage choices, creators and independents, diversity and representation, editorial strategy, global and exiled journalism, journalism education, local news and placemaking, newsroom culture, platforms and tech, press freedom and democracy, product thinking, social media and vertical video, storycraft and format, the human premium, and trust and verification. And I’ve highlighted some of our favorites — the ones whose ideas have stuck with me and other Nieman Lab staffers most. May your 2026 be better than your 2025.

AI strategy

AI slop and disinformation

AI tools and workflows

Audience fatigue

Business models

Collaboration and ecosystems

Coverage choices

Creators and independents

Diversity and representation

Editorial strategy

Global and exiled journalism

Journalism education

Local news and placemaking

Newsroom culture

Platforms and tech

Press freedom and democracy

Product thinking

Social media and vertical video

Storycraft and format

The human premium

Trust and verification

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