2017 was such an intense year of unrelenting news cycles that affected all of us on a deeply personal level. For some, it was more than personal — it was their own lived reality, one nut graf at a time.
My prediction is that 2018 will bring more of an information-life balance back into our lives. This will manifest itself in three ways:
First, shifting business models away from advertising and towards consumer revenue will result in readers directly seeking out news sources they trust.
Second, greater awareness of the impact of tech addiction will result in more readers uninstalling apps from their phones, muting push notifications, and implementing a “Tech Sabbath.”
Third, readers will grow tired of the breathless coverage of the Trump administration and every play-by-play of the news cycle being played out on social media and on cable news.
This seeking of balance will create an opportunity for news organizations offering context to create more meaningful relationships with our readers — a relationship built on the quality and not the quantity of our coverage.
My prediction is also an aspirational one for those of us who work in newsrooms. May 2018 also bring a healthier work-life balance into our newsrooms.
When 2017 began, you were focused on getting the story. This was the year when your reporting and editing mattered. This was the year when journalism’s fundamental purpose was once again clarified for you. This was the year when waking up in the morning and going to work meant something more than just a paycheck.
So you worked longer hours. You became personally invested in the story. You felt every headline.
Twelve months later, how are you feeling? Do you have a sense of dread every time you open your Twitter app? Does your heart sink whenever you get a breaking news alert on your phone? Most importantly, are you able to remove yourself from the story when you’re at home with your family?
My hope is that the new year will bring you and your newsrooms colleagues a healthier work-life balance. Look after yourself. Journalism needs you at your best.
David Skok is a news strategist and former top digital executive at The Toronto Star, The Boston Globe, and Global.
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Sara M. Watson Feeds will open up to new user-determined filters
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Amie Ferris-Rotman More female reporters abroad (please)
Sally Lehrman Trust comes first
Dan Shanoff You down with OTT? (Yeah, DTC)
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Bill Keller A growing turn to philanthropy
Kinsey Wilson Facebook and Google: Help out or pay up
Matt Boggie The intellectual equivalent of the Dead Sea
Laura E. Davis Writing answers before you know the question
Eric Ulken The year local publishers get smart(er) about change
Doris Truong Computer vision vs. the Internet vigilantes
Pia Frey Address users as individuals
Matt DeRienzo A recession, then a collapse
Debra Adams Simmons And a woman shall lead them
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Craig Newmark Working together toward sustainable solutions
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Damon Krukowski Reviving the alt-weekly soul
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