New year, new media: 22 journalism predictions for 2022

Stock image of woman looking through telescope, symbolising looking ahead at journalism predictions for 2022.

It’s the beginning of a new year and editors and reporters across the country are sharing their journalism predictions for 2022.

Journalists, trainees and journalism tutors all know the importance of keeping up with trends, making the most of available technology and anticipating what the biggest stories of the year will be.

The media industry is always changing, making it one of the most thrilling careers to pursue.

At News Associates we’ve spoken to journalists in a range of jobs and trawled the internet to find out 22 journalism predictions for 2022 from those who live and breathe it.

VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA JOURNALISM

1. Chandni Sembhi, senior producer, PinkNews

“Telling stories on social media doesn’t come without its challenges. With limits to video length and how many characters you can use, journalists should make sure they are still able to tell the entire story, especially with misinformation and disinformation spreading so quickly across social platforms.”

2. Beth Kirkbride, audience editor, Sheffield Star

“Video is a fundamental tenet of a newsroom strategy in this day and age, and my journalism predictions are that we’ll see short-form platforms like TikTok continue to be a big part. If you’re a young journalist thinking about skills you can equip yourself with, definitely learn how to produce and edit video content to stand yourself in good stead for multimedia journalism jobs.”


Read how Kirkbride got into entertainment journalism here.

3. Neve Gordon-Farleigh, journalism apprentice, BBC

Gordon-Farleigh said establishing your journalism career in 2022 doesn’t have to be about getting ‘traditional’ work experience.

“It’s about being able to put yourself out there. If there isn’t experience coming to you, make it yourself – create a blog or a YouTube channel for example. Showing your transferable skills might pay off more than a week of work experience where you make a few phone calls.”

Read Neve’s top tips from our social media journalism panel here.

4. Laura Garcia, multimedia journalist

“Journalists more than ever have to be willing to adapt, learn and be creative with how we newsgather and how we tell stories. There are incredible stories to be found for those willing to change, experiment and learn.”

@tiktok_journo The future is multimedia #journotok #journalism #storytelling #journalismtips ♬ original sound – In The Heights

Read Garcia’s top tips for multimedia story-telling here.

5. Martin Booth, editor, Bristol 24/7

“Journalists have to build up their own personal brand and I think that is more relevant than ever. Video can really make a difference. Not just telling the story but telling the stories behind the story.”

6. Sophia Smith Galer, senior news reporter, VICE

To kick off the year, The Reuter’s Institute published a report looking into what trends will be shaping journalism in 2022.

Smith Galer responded with a Twitter thread giving her own journalism predictions and highlighting the importance of social and video journalism, as well as ‘personality-filled’ reporting.

DIVERSE VOICES

7. Dorothy Reddin, royal lifestyle reporter, Daily Express

“Journalists in 2022 should ensure the average person has a champion in the media. People from all backgrounds and walks of life should be given the platforms to speak to widen people’s horizons, especially as the world becomes more digitised.”

8. Declan Carey, community news writer, In Your Area

“2022 is going to be a big year for increasing diversity in stories. Journalists who reach out to communities we don’t often hear from are going to be massively rewarded. Journalists who come from underrepresented backgrounds will also be rewarded. That expertise and lived experience is going to be increasingly important in 2022.”


9. Katharine Quarmby, freelance investigative journalist

“My journalism predictions are that we will see a deeper focus on environmental journalism this year, including, I hope, an understanding of how climate change will widen existing inequalities. I hope that 2022 will be a year in which journalists can work out how to include voices from marginalised groups in meaningful ways.”

Read what Quarmby has to say about the importance of investigative journalism here.

10. Mojo Abidi, journalist, ITV News

“In 2022, I think journalists should be focusing more on engaging younger audiences. We can do this by shifting our focus away from Twitter, and towards platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Digital should be a core part of any journalist’s day and storytelling, not just an afterthought!”

@mojo.abidi Do you have any questions about becoming a journalist? #journalist #journalism #news #itvnews #career #fyp ♬ … is sweaty – Kellan

11. Vicky Gayle, investigative journalist, The Bureau Local and TBIJ

“Inequalities for people with learning disabilities should definitely be a reporting focus for 2022. People with learning disabilities have been hit particularly hard by Covid-19 with regards to experiencing a higher mortality rate; poor access to health and social care; there have been concerns over access to booster jabs; and so much more.”

 
 
 
 
 
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12. Olivia Stringer, live news reporter, Daily Express

“In 2022 climate change is an issue that journalists really need to be focusing on. I think it’s vital that journalists make sure that it not only dominates the headlines, but that the voices of those who will be most impacted by climate change are heard.”

COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE

13. Alasdair Hooper, sports content editor, Reach plc

“For me the big change is remote working. I’m still working from home and have been since March 2020. If you find yourself in that position my advice would be to stay resilient and to stay social. Having friends in the industry can be a big help.”

14. Katie Fenton, journalist, ITV Wales

“Many people have told me they’ve disengaged with news since the Covid pandemic began dominating coverage, with so much of it negative and leaving little hope.

“Trusted, accessible and engaging coverage of the climate crisis will also become even more important. Journalists will need to provide resolutions and optimism, without undermining the seriousness of the situation.”

15. Natasha Livingstone, reporter, Mail on Sunday

“I think the biggest challenge for the industry in 2022 is enabling young journalists to learn and get practical experience from senior reporters when work from home orders and cultures continue in newsrooms.

“Young people recruited on trainee schemes may be lucky enough to get paired with experienced reporters, like at the Mail on Sunday, but at other organisations young reporters can feel they have no one to turn to for advice.”

16. Joseph Timan, local democracy reporter, Manchester Evening News

“The impact of the pandemic is being felt now more than ever in the NHS and across the public sector. This will be one of the biggest challenges for the government, local councils and the wider health and social care system in 2022 – and there will be many stories to tell about how their decisions affect people.”

Find out everything you need to know about local democracy reporters here.

17. Hanna Ward, broadcast journalist and producer, BBC and Times Radio

“For me what is changing in the industry is access to individuals and telling their stories. The technology and platforms we use can be powerful and in the pandemic world, we should utilise this as much as possible.

“After COP26, Journalists should be focussing on finding more interesting and creative ways to tell climate change stories and show just how much it is impacting people across the world.”

READER FOCUS

18. Adam England, freelance journalist

“A real challenge for journalists this year is going to be winning back their audience’s trust – a lot of people have turned away from the media and it’s our job to engage with them.”

19. Dani Cole, features journalist, Manchester Mill and Sheffield Tribune

“In 2022 my journalism predictions are that we’ll see more reader-focused independent media publications start popping up – newsletter publishing has started to take off in the UK and many people are already using platforms such as Substack to share their journalism.”

POLITICAL DRAMA

20. Adam Payne, senior correspondent, Politics Home

“One major story I think looks likely to happen in 2022 is a new Prime Minister. We could very soon have a leadership contest.

“You should be thinking about the local elections on May 5th. Is there a borough, a county or a local patch that you can make your own in those elections? National publications can’t get it all themselves and I’m sure they would be very keen to be helped by your reporting.”

21. Alessandra Galloni, editor-in-chief, Reuters

Galloni told Press Gazette her journalism predictions: “As politics and society become increasingly polarized and opinionated, there is a tremendous opportunity for publishers that offer impartial and unbiased news. Presenting rigorously fact-checked, fact-based journalism is a commercial opportunity.”

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

22. Inayia Angel Beddelem, trainee journalist, Journo Resources

Finally, with a new year comes new resolutions for journalists, whether early in your career or a veteran reporter. Beddelem shared some top new year’s resolutions for Journo Resources!

@journoresources What are your resolutions for 2022? Here are a few to start off… #journotok #journalismgang #journalismtiktok #journalismlife #newyearsresolutions ♬ original sound – Journo Resources

If your new year’s resolution is to break into the journalism industry, check out our blog on the different routes into journalism.

At The School of Journalism we’re proud to be the UK’s number one NCTJ journalism degree, and we live and breathe the changes happening in the media right now. Register for our free events to get a taster of our award-winning journalism training.