World Press Trends Outlook 2024-5

Abstract

World Press Trends Outlook 2024-2025 Executive Summary

This is the 35th annual World Press Trends Outlook report, an annual study from WAN-IFRA (World Association of News Publishers) that offers an in-depth look at the current and future state of the global news media industry. As in previous years, this study is grounded in findings from a comprehensive survey of senior media executives and newsroom leaders. More than 240 participants, across 85 countries, contributed insights into pivotal areas of the news media business. This includes trends in revenue generation, business outgoings, digital transformation, relationships with technology platforms, and press freedom. These expert insights, coupled with case studies from around the world, offer us a fresh perspective on the health of the news industry and today’s media landscape.

Key Findings

Revenue Trends
-Print remains a significant revenue source for many news publishers, accounting for 45% of total income among our survey participants. However, reliance on print is falling. It is down from 57.5% of publisher revenues in 2023 and 53.5% in 2022.
-Digital revenues grew by 7% year-on-year. They now constitute over 31% of total revenues, as multiple publishers successfully implement paywalls and digital subscriptions, while at the same time monetising products such as podcasts and newsletters.
-Publishers continue to invest in efforts to diversify their revenue streams. Alternative income streams – such as events, e-commerce, and memberships – are gaining in traction. They now account for nearly a quarter (23.8%) of total revenues.

Digital Transformation and Business Outlook
-While digital transformation is maturing, only 10% of publishers rate their efforts as "sophisticated." Developing markets face greater challenges, with 51% of respondents describing their efforts as “emergent.”
-Optimism in the industry is rising, with 61% of respondents feeling positive about the next 12 months, increasing to 64% over the next three years. This is driven by factors such as growing revenue diversification, technological advances, and strategic acquisitions.

Outgoings and Investments
- Editorial costs now account for nearly 37% of publisher budgets, up from 28% in 2023, reflecting efforts to deliver distinct content and new verticals.
- The amount of publishers’ budgets going to print has decreased slightly, and investment in product development has halved since last year. Product remains an important focus, so decreased costs are likely to be the result of maintaining and developing existing products, instead of creating new ones.
- Investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Analytics Tools are also pivotal to the strategic priorities of news publishers in the coming year.

Artificial Intelligence and Relationships with Platforms
- AI is transforming workflows, and is being used for everything from creating audio articles, through to deployment of dynamic paywall and chatbots. However, challenges remain around issues of copyright and company-wide adoption.
-Relationships with platforms continue to evolve. Partnerships with video, messaging, and AI platforms have shown the greatest improvement over the past 12 months. However, revenue from platform partnerships dropped to 12% of total revenues in 2024, down from 15.1% last year.

Press and Media Freedom
-Attacks on media freedom are increasing globally, with rising incidents of online harassment, cyberattacks, and physical violence against journalists. Almost 100 journalists were killed in 2024.
-Regulatory actions, legal threats, and platform censorship further threaten media independence, especially in developing markets.
-Shining a light on these issues, as well as investing in initiatives like anti-SLAPP legislation and digital safety training, is critical to protecting journalists and fostering media freedom.