Is Journalism Dead?

Politics in recent years has frequently been referred to as post-truth. In the age of misinformation, and indeed disinformation, what importance does truth have when a salacious not-quite-truth can dominate public chatter for weeks on end?  Journalism used to be regarded as a core pillar of free societies, a respected profession bestowed with the responsibility of educating and informing the masses. Shifts toward digital journalism bridged the gap even further, with news becoming increasingly accessible for all. And citizen journalism, though it has its limits, has also historically enriched the media environment through providing on the ground updates in situations like the Arab Spring. However, in these turbulent times, it seems the future of the profession is at a pivotal junction.

Attacks on the free press have become increasingly frequent and aggressive. Perhaps most infamously, the BBC has faced attacks from both sides of the political aisle in recent times. President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the public broadcaster, alleging misrepresentation of comments made in a speech to supporters on 6^th January 2021. These allegations lead to the resignation of director general Tim Davie, and head of news Deborah Turness. Whether or not the criticisms are valid, threatening legal action amounting to $5bn is an explicit example of press intimidation. Trump even cites former PM Liz Truss in support of his claim that the BBC is “institutionally biased against President Trump”. That a former PM has echoed this questioning of the BBC’s impartiality demonstrates the root of the problem; a culture whereby the integrity of the press can be disputed after every perceived slight against an individual. More concerning still is the fact that current PM Starmer has declined to meaningfully defend the broadcaster, instead suggesting the BBC “get its house in order.”

Traditional journalism is also being threatened by the increase in usage of Generative AI. Copywriter and copyeditor roles are disappearing, as articles of all types are replaced by high-turnover, unimaginative AI produced lists. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has written extensively about the threats of intellectual property rights breaches, with inaccurate data used to produce articles that are falsely attributed to prominent journalists. The widespread use of AI in journalism threatens the reputation of the broader profession, as well as risking the fragile trust between journalist and reader that has taken years to cultivate. The reliance on technology over human creativity risks eradicating journalism as a legitimate career option for early-career journalists, drastically limiting diversity within the industry and threatening longevity.

Indeed, recent high-profile layoffs and funding droughts are already impacting the future of the profession. Days after the Washington Post laid off nearly a third of its staff, including over 300 journalists, its publisher Will Lewis has resigned in the wake of huge criticism. Many of the Post’s journalists were laid off whilst actively in conflict zones, including correspondent Lizzie Johnson who was reporting in Ukraine. “I was just laid off in the middle of a warzone,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I have no words. I’m devastated.” 

The criticism is directed towards the Post’s billionaire owner Jeff Bezos, who recently spent $75m producing the Trump family’s latest vanity project, a documentary on the life of First Lady Melania. The outrage is unsurprising – the film is regarded as a box office failure and is an obvious if desperate attempt to curry favour with the President. This story is not unique, however, as more than 3000 job cuts were recorded across UK and US journalism industries in 2025. Journalists, it seems, are losing their grip on the public narrative, with the gap being filled by PR fluff pieces and AI slop.

Bezos’s ownership of the Washington Post also provokes questions about conflicts of interest and corporate monopolies. In the UK, beyond the infamous Murdoch conglomerate of newspapers, the Telegraph is owned by billionaire Barclay brothers, with the Evening Standard and The Independent owned by former KGB spy Alexander Lebedev and his family. Questions have been raised about security advice regarding the granting of a peerage to Lebedev’s son Evgeny in 2020, and the family’s wider relationship with former PM Boris Johnson. Billionaires across the globe have sought to extend their influence through purchasing stakes in prominent journalism outlets, again calling into question the degree to which these publications can maintain impartiality and independence whilst reliant on billionaire bailouts.

Facing so many existential threats, the future of journalism is precarious. Journalism unions across the world will have to double down in efforts to create legal protections for journalists in the fight against the spread of AI, and politicians must recognise the value of the free press before it is gone. Journalism is the backbone of democracy, and good journalism cannot be so easily resurrected once the institutions that make it possible are gutted by corporate greed and the ambitions of the political elite.

Image: Flickr/UKinUSA (Andrew Parsons - No 10 Downing Street)

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