Insights from important journalism figures on the state of news in 2025, as shared by the Nieman Journalism Lab.
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This past year, higher education has weathered significant shifts and/or turmoil in leadership; inclusion, diversity and equity practices, and student enrollment, all influenced by economic challenges, demographic changes and political headwinds. College athletics, too, have new policies around name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, moving toward professionalism and giving athletes greater control over their personal brands and financial opportunities.
In this evolving landscape, journalism educators continue to prepare their students for technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors driving the industry. In 2025, college journalism programs will push forward and adapt to meet workforce demands, student expectations and community needs. Keep an eye on developments in these key areas:
Ethics and misinformation: Journalism programs will double down on ethics and critical thinking as misinformation spreads. Discerning between “fake news” and truth will be trickier than ever. As noted by the Reuters Institute, the lines between types of content — like political propaganda, satire, advertisement, and, yes, poor journalism — are increasingly blurred. Student journalists who master verification tools for sources, identities, locations and images will not only strengthen their reporting capacities but also stand out in the competitive marketplace for internships and jobs.
Global perspectives: Training the next generation of journalists means preparing them to be global citizens. Recent reports show that doing so can significantly boost students’ professional and personal growth. Journalism schools will broaden global experiences to enhance intercultural communication skills and cultural awareness. From study abroad programs to international collaborations, these initiatives will help students better address universal issues with well-rounded perspectives.
Artificial intelligence: Expect AI instruction to become more prevalent as professors demonstrate its relevance in research, data analysis, content creation and dissemination. Understanding AI will help students position themselves in media organizations eager to leverage the technology. Additionally, educators will engage students to a greater extent in discussions about the ethical implications of AI, including privacy, bias, fairness, transparency and accountability.
Local news and community engagement: With the accelerated loss of local newspapers, many more communities will become news deserts, leading to decreased civic and political engagement. Journalism programs and independent student media will continue to fill these information gaps. More funding for projects and initiatives that support student journalists and local news ecosystems will come forward.
Diversity and belonging: Despite the dismantling of diversity programs and positions at many higher ed institutions, journalism schools will be at the forefront of fostering inclusive learning environments. These academic programs will partner with each other and nonprofit organizations to create courses and projects that reflect diverse lived experiences. These collaborations will support the needs and interests of students, faculty, staff and community stakeholders, cultivating welcoming environments and respectful conversations in which everyone feels valued and included.
By reinforcing ethics and combating misinformation, fostering global perspectives, integrating AI, saving local news and ensuring diversity and belonging, journalism education in 2025 will prepare well-rounded, ethically minded and global students to meet the challenges of a transformative era.
Mira Lowe is dean of the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University.
Find a selection of Nieman Journalism Lab’s predictions for journalism in 2025 here.
