Adapting is the only way to survive

"I bought a tripod and a mini microphone. I googled how to style hair and makeup. I practiced my smile, my angles, my lighting, and my posture. When I was in college, a multimedia journalist was someone proficient in broadcast and print. Today, that definition has expanded greatly. Can you write a Substack? Can you produce a podcast? Can you make a Reel, a TikTok? Do bylines even matter anymore?"

"Suddenly, I find myself sipping wine with my media friends, talking about our media strategies - jobs that celebrities hire robust teams to perform. We knew it was coming - and next year, the lines between presence, popularity, and prose will reach their final coming together. As young people, we talk about what it means to work our way up in an industry where the rules are shifting from under our feet."

"Online, the hierarchies of the newsrooms don't exist, and we all do what we can to keep our current jobs while posturing for what may or may not be the next one. As layoffs and AI reshape the media industry, it's very clear that next year we will still be fighting in this online battlefield, even more than ever - even harder than ever - for the attention of whatever lies within the digital abyss."

A cohort of journalists is transitioning into influencer roles by adopting tools, aesthetics, and platform-specific formats like TikTok, Reels, podcasts, and Substack. The definition of a multimedia journalist now includes personal branding, social platforms, and direct-to-audience publishing. Traditional newsroom hierarchies are eroding as professionals juggle current jobs while positioning for precarious next roles. Layoffs and AI-driven change are accelerating competition for attention across digital channels. Readers increasingly favor niche Substack voices over prestigious outlets. Consolidation of individual newsletters into larger branded publications is anticipated. Relaunching a Substack is positioned as a necessary element of career strategy and brand building.

Read at Nieman Lab