It’s not a great time to be coming into the sphere of journalism—declining public belief within the media, issues in regards to the affect of know-how, and shrinking newsrooms are amongst many issues—however new analysis from skilled companies communications agency Greentarget finds that the following era of journalists stays optimistic about the way forward for their occupation, with a decisive majority (72 p.c) holding a optimistic outlook for journalism.
Findings from the agency’s new report, Subsequent-Gen Journalists: Navigating Misinformation, AI & The Way forward for Journalism, come because the business confronts challenges from misinformation and disinformation to fears that generative AI might undermine journalism jobs.
Notably, future journalists are cut up relating to AI
- About three-quarters (74 p.c) count on AI to have a major affect on the business
- Half of these surveyed consider the know-how poses a risk
- The bulk already use AI instruments of their reporting
The report, which surveyed 100 journalism college students and new professionals, uncovers the views of this rising class on points and views presently dividing the sphere, and their outlook on the place the occupation is heading. The brand new analysis, which follows the agency’s stories in 2020 and 2021 on the toll that “faux information” has taken on seasoned journalists, reveals that whereas next-gen journalists are largely clear-eyed in regards to the challenges forward, they’re additionally obsessed with their work and are fortunately approaching it with the conventional intentions of serving the general public and holding energy to account.
“The views of the following era are crucial, as these journalists would be the ones shaping the business’s response to existential crises—from plummeting belief to struggling enterprise fashions—which are already taking a toll on the media,” mentioned Lisa Seidenberg, Greentarget’s director of media relations, in a information launch. “It’s heartening to see that they’re not solely desirous about these challenges now, however are additionally obsessed with discovering options.”
Among the many report’s different key findings:
Conventional journalistic strategies nonetheless outweigh social media for reporting
Reporting within the discipline (94 p.c), drawing from primary-source networks (92 p.c) and seeking to specialists and assume tanks (92 p.c) have been essentially the most widely-used assets for younger journalists, outweighing social platforms relating to producing story concepts and sourcing and/or verifying data.
DEI is a precedence
Practically six in 10 are involved in regards to the present stage of racial, gender and financial illustration in journalism and 85 p.c are taught the significance of getting numerous sources of their journalism training.
Many count on misinformation and disinformation to worsen
Whereas practically half count on the prevalence of faux information to develop within the subsequent yr, 9 in 10 additionally plan to do what they will to fight its unfold.
Subsequent-generation journalists are purpose-driven
Among the many high motivations for pursuing journalism are offering data to the general public for knowledgeable selections (62 p.c), exposing injustice (58 p.c) and combating misinformation and disinformation (45 p.c).
