https://www.niemanlab.org/2022/12/this-is-the-year-of-the-rss-reader-really/ [lab-logo-w] Predictions for Journalism 2023 Nikki Usher This is the year of the RSS reader. (Really!) "Contrary to what The New York Times has speculated, we are not at peak newsletter. We are just at peak newsletter via email delivery." With using Twitter becoming increasingly like smoking -- a habit you can't quit but know you should -- there's a chance that a better RSS reader will finally, finally take hold and scale. Two years ago, Sara Watson boldly predicted in this space that we might see a return of the RSS reader, or something like it, recognizing that the world of constant email newsletters was simply impossible to maintain. But the appetite wasn't strong enough yet. The difference, going into 2023, is that even the Inbox Zero people are going to have a reason to complain. Left without a better way to quickly zoom in and zoom out on the state of the universe (also known as the world according to Twitter), I predict those people will reach a point of frustration in even their ability to manage email. It is at this point that the most organized people in late capitalism will rise up about a very small matter and demand something better: An RSS for the people, open source, easily used, and not some weird niche version for podcasts or that uses AI. Two years ago, Substack was becoming a thing, but the newest spawn of DC beltway publications based on newsletter distribution had yet to break through. But now the mix includes Semafor, Puck, Punchbowl, more Axios Locals, and new ones on the horizon like Pluribis News. There are two types of Inbox Zero people in this world: Those who do not read any news or shop online, and those who use a lot of Twitter. You may recall them talking about how RSS readers were obsolete in a world of Twitter (after all, even Google killed Reader). Twitter could be their perfectly curated and controlled sandbox of content. Now, it's less socially acceptable to tweet. Contrary to what The New York Times has speculated, we are not at peak newsletter. We are just at peak newsletter via email delivery. The 10% of people who claim that email newsletters are their primary form of news consumption include among them the most anal, powerful, and high-net worth people in the country. I predict that these people won't stand for a universe where their email becomes ever more crowded just because of Elon Musk mucking up Twitter. The only way to survive in a world where multiple DC-insider publications are launching multiple newsletters and Twitter is no longer socially acceptable is to use an RSS reader that satisfies the intelligentsia and political elite. Will we get it? It may well be that the feed from email to robust RSS reader needs an API that isn't yet possible, given password-protected, your-and-Gmail's-eyes-only email. RSS readers may need their own ecology of analytics in order to be commercially desirable and worthy of tech investment. Given that tech companies have taken to these newsletters to plead their case to the beltway, they certainly don't want to lose the readers of these email newsletters, either. That provides a market incentive to make a better, bigger, bolder RSS reader. And if Ben Thompson is right that that "text on the internet is arguably the most competitive medium in all of human history," then there is an opportunity for a very retro version of tech disruption. Nikki Usher (they/them) is an associate professor in communication studies at the University of San Diego. [nikkiusher-1] With using Twitter becoming increasingly like smoking -- a habit you can't quit but know you should -- there's a chance that a better RSS reader will finally, finally take hold and scale. Two years ago, Sara Watson boldly predicted in this space that we might see a return of the RSS reader, or something like it, recognizing that the world of constant email newsletters was simply impossible to maintain. But the appetite wasn't strong enough yet. The difference, going into 2023, is that even the Inbox Zero people are going to have a reason to complain. Left without a better way to quickly zoom in and zoom out on the state of the universe (also known as the world according to Twitter), I predict those people will reach a point of frustration in even their ability to manage email. It is at this point that the most organized people in late capitalism will rise up about a very small matter and demand something better: An RSS for the people, open source, easily used, and not some weird niche version for podcasts or that uses AI. Two years ago, Substack was becoming a thing, but the newest spawn of DC beltway publications based on newsletter distribution had yet to break through. But now the mix includes Semafor, Puck, Punchbowl, more Axios Locals, and new ones on the horizon like Pluribis News. There are two types of Inbox Zero people in this world: Those who do not read any news or shop online, and those who use a lot of Twitter. You may recall them talking about how RSS readers were obsolete in a world of Twitter (after all, even Google killed Reader). Twitter could be their perfectly curated and controlled sandbox of content. Now, it's less socially acceptable to tweet. Contrary to what The New York Times has speculated, we are not at peak newsletter. We are just at peak newsletter via email delivery. The 10% of people who claim that email newsletters are their primary form of news consumption include among them the most anal, powerful, and high-net worth people in the country. I predict that these people won't stand for a universe where their email becomes ever more crowded just because of Elon Musk mucking up Twitter. The only way to survive in a world where multiple DC-insider publications are launching multiple newsletters and Twitter is no longer socially acceptable is to use an RSS reader that satisfies the intelligentsia and political elite. Will we get it? It may well be that the feed from email to robust RSS reader needs an API that isn't yet possible, given password-protected, your-and-Gmail's-eyes-only email. RSS readers may need their own ecology of analytics in order to be commercially desirable and worthy of tech investment. Given that tech companies have taken to these newsletters to plead their case to the beltway, they certainly don't want to lose the readers of these email newsletters, either. That provides a market incentive to make a better, bigger, bolder RSS reader. And if Ben Thompson is right that that "text on the internet is arguably the most competitive medium in all of human history," then there is an opportunity for a very retro version of tech disruption. Nikki Usher (they/them) is an associate professor in communication studies at the University of San Diego. Each year, Nieman Lab asks some of the smartest people in journalism what they think is coming in the new year. Here are their predictions for 2023. See the full list - Upasna Gautam Technology that performs at the speed of news Sarabeth Berman Nonprofit local news shows that it can scale Masuma Ahuja Journalism starts working for and with its communities Anna Nirmala News organizations get new structures Bill Adair The year of the fact-check (no, really!) Richard Tofel The press might get better at vetting presidential candidates Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau More of the same Zizi Papacharissi Platforms are over Dominic-Madori Davis Everyone finally realizes the need for diverse voices in tech reporting Eric Holthaus As social media fragments, marginalized voices gain more power Gordon Crovitz The year advertisers stop funding misinformation Mar Cabra The inevitable mental health revolution Larry Ryckman We'll work together with our competitors Stefanie Murray The year U.S. media stops screwing around and becomes pro-democracy Jaden Amos TikTok personality journalists continue to rise Leezel Tanglao Community partnerships drive better reporting Barbara Raab More journalism funders will take more risks Emily Nonko Incarcerated reporters get more bylines Cory Bergman The AI content flood Shante Cosme The answer to "quiet quitting" is radical empathy Don Day The news about the news is bad. I'm optimistic. Jessica Maddox Journalists keep getting manipulated by internet culture Alex Sujong Laughlin Credit where it's due Dana Lacey Tech will screw publishers over Delano Massey The industry shakes its imposter syndrome Errin Haines Journalists on the campaign trail mend trust with the public Anthony Nadler Confronting media gerrymandering Nicholas Jackson There will be launches -- and we'll keep doing the work Sue Schardt Toward a new poetics of journalism Sam Gregory Synthetic media forces us to understand how media gets made Felicitas Carrique and Becca Aaronson News product goes from trend to standard Rachel Glickhouse Humanizing newsrooms will be a badge of honor Susan Chira Equipping local journalism Sue Cross Thinking and acting collectively to save the news Anita Varma Journalism prioritizes the basic need for survival Dannagal G. Young Stop rewarding elite performances of identity threat Surya Mattu Data journalists learn from photojournalists Kathy Lu We need emotionally agile newsroom leaders Jonas Kaiser Rejecting the "free speech" frame Jarrad Henderson Video editing will help people understand the media they consume Amy Schmitz Weiss Journalism education faces a crossroads David Cohn AI made this prediction J. Siguru Wahutu American journalism reckons with its colonialist tendencies Megan Lucero and Shirish Kulkarni The future of journalism is not you Burt Herman The year AI truly arrives -- and with it the reckoning Danielle K. Brown and Kathleen Searles DEI efforts must consider mental health and online abuse Karina Montoya More reporters on the antitrust beat Eric Thurm Journalists think of themselves as workers Wilson Lievano Diaspora journalism takes the next step Sarah Stonbely Growth in public funding for news and information at the state and local levels Ariel Zirulnick Journalism doubles down on user needs Amethyst J. Davis The slight of the great contraction Tamar Charney Flux is the new stability Julia Angwin Democracies will get serious about saving journalism Mary Walter-Brown and Tristan Loper Mission-driven metrics become our North Star John Davidow A year of intergenerational learning Kerri Hoffman Podcasting goes local Kirstin McCudden We'll codify protection of journalism and newsgathering Victor Pickard The year journalism and capitalism finally divorce Pia Frey Publishers start polling their users at scale Andrew Losowsky Journalism realizes the replacement for Twitter is not a new Twitter Janelle Salanga Journalists work from a place of harm reduction Alex Perry New paths to transparency without Twitter Hillary Frey Death to the labor-intensive memo for prospective hires Ryan Gantz "I'm sorry, but I'm a large language model" Johannes Klingebiel The innovation team, R.I.P. Ryan Nave Citizen journalism, but make it equitable Snigdha Sur Newsrooms get nimble in a recession Basile Simon Towards supporting criminal accountability Joni Deutsch Podcast collaboration -- not competition -- breeds excellence Al Lucca Digital news design gets interesting again Emma Carew Grovum The year to resist forgetting about diversity A.J. Bauer Covering the right wrong Jakob Moll Journalism startups will think beyond English Ayala Panievsky It's time for PR for journalism S. Mitra Kalita "Everything sucks. Good luck to you." Doris Truong Workers demand to be paid what the job is worth An Xiao Mina Journalism in a time of permacrisis Sue Robinson Engagement journalism will have to confront a tougher reality Moreno Cruz Osorio Brazilian journalism turns wounds into action Jody Brannon We'll embrace policy remedies Laxmi Parthasarathy Unlocking the silent demand for international journalism Kaitlin C. Miller Harassment in journalism won't get better, but we'll talk about it more openly Laura E. Davis The year we embrace the robots -- and ourselves Joe Amditis AI throws a lifeline to local publishers Sam Guzik AI will start fact-checking. We may not like the results. Anika Anand Independent news businesses lead the way on healthy work cultures Khushbu Shah Global reporting will suffer Mael Vallejo More threats to press freedom across the Americas Alan Henry A reckoning with why trust in news is so low Ben Werdmuller The internet is up for grabs again Gabe Schneider Well-funded journalism leaders stop making disparate pay Parker Molloy We'll reach new heights of moral panic Jennifer Brandel AI couldn't care less. Journalists will care more. Priyanjana Bengani Partisan local news networks will collaborate Nikki Usher This is the year of the RSS reader. (Really!) Simon Galperin Philanthropy stops investing in corporate media Alexandra Borchardt The year of the climate journalism strategy Andrew Donohue We'll find out whether journalism can, indeed, save democracy Joshua P. Darr Local to live, wire to wither Tim Carmody Newsletter writers need a new ethics Joanne McNeil Facebook and the media kiss and make up Francesco Zaffarano There is no end of "social media" Matt Rasnic More newsroom workers turn to organized labor David Skok Renewed interest in human-powered reporting Nicholas Thompson The year AI actually changes the media business Peter Sterne AI enters the newsroom Brian Moritz Rebuilding the news bundle Valerie Belair-Gagnon Well-being will become a core tenet of journalism Cari Nazeer and Emily Goligoski News organizations step up their support for caregivers Jenna Weiss-Berman The economic downturn benefits the podcasting industry. (No, really!) Elite Truong In platform collapse, an opportunity for community Kaitlyn Wells We'll prioritize media literacy for children Cindy Royal Yes, journalists should learn to code, but... Juleyka Lantigua Newsrooms recognize women of color as the canaries in the coal mine Peter Bale Rising costs force more digital innovation Ryan Kellett Airline-like loyalty programs try to tie down news readers Nicholas Diakopoulos Journalists productively harness generative AI tools Julia Beizer News fatigue shows us a clear path forward Sumi Aggarwal Smart newsrooms will prioritize board development Sarah Marshall A web channel strategy won't be enough Molly de Aguiar and Mandy Van Deven Narrative change trend brings new money to journalism Jim Friedlich Local journalism steps up to the challenge of civic coverage Jennifer Choi and Jonathan Jackson Funders finally bet on next-generation news entrepreneurs Jessica Clark Open discourse retrenches Bill Grueskin Local news will come to rely on AI Eric Nuzum A focus on people instead of power Jim VandeHei There is no "peak newsletter" Raney Aronson-Rath Journalists will band together to fight intimidation Michael W. Wagner The backlash against pro-democracy reporting is coming Walter Frick Journalists wake up to the power of prediction markets Jacob L. Nelson Despite it all, people will still want to be journalists Daniel Trielli Trust in news will continue to fall. Just look at Brazil. Esther Kezia Thorpe Subscription pressures force product innovation Brian Stelter Finding new ways to reach news avoiders Gina Chua The traditional story structure gets deconstructed Kavya Sukumar Belling the cat: The rise of independent fact-checking at scale Taylor Lorenz The "creator economy" will be astroturfed Christina Shih Shared values move from nice-to-haves to essentials Christoph Mergerson The rot at the core of the news business Michael Schudson Journalism gets more and more difficult Cassandra Etienne Local news fellowships will help fight newsroom inequities Jesse Holcomb Buffeted, whipped, bullied, pulled Paul Cheung More news organizations will realize they are in the business of impact, not eyeballs Tre'vell Anderson Continued culpability in anti-trans campaigns Alexandra Svokos Working harder to reach audiences where they are Mario Garcia More newsrooms go mobile-first Rodney Gibbs Recalibrating how we work apart Stale Grut Your newsroom experiences a Midjourney-gate, too Sarah Alvarez Dream bigger or lose out Mariana Moura Santos A woman who speaks is a woman who changes the world Janet Haven ChatGPT and the future of trust Martina Efeyini Talk to Gen Z. They're the experts of Gen Z. Mauricio Cabrera It's no longer about audiences, it's about communities Eric Ulken Generative AI brings wrongness at scale Lisa Heyamoto The independent news industry gets a roadmap to sustainability Updating with new predictions until Dec. 22 Updating with new predictions until Dec. 22 What to read next These stories are our most popular on Twitter over the past 30 days. See all our most recent pieces [fuego-logo] Fuego is our heat-seeking Twitter bot, tracking the links the future-of-journalism crowd is talking about most on Twitter. Here are a few of the top links Fuego's currently watching. 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