Press Release | Tickaroo

Tickaroo, a news and sports media software leader, today released the results of its Future of Journalism Survey, exposing a growing tension between the next generation of journalists’ fierce belief in the profession’s democratic purpose, and frustration with the industry’s economics, culture and future direction. Sixty-nine percent say the industry urgently needs reinvention.

Based on responses from 172 U.K. journalism students and professionals in the first five years of their careers, the survey highlighted that the majority remain driven by ideals of truth-telling and accountability. Eighty percent are motivated by telling important stories, 60% by investigating and uncovering the truth and 52% to hold power accountable. Sixty-four percent believe that journalism is vital for democracy.

However, many also describe journalism as a struggling, exclusionary profession that fails to support or sustain those entering it. Almost half (48%) of respondents described journalism as currently facing financial problems, with 42% citing cultural challenges. Over one-third (34%) predicted that its relevance would decline due to the growth of other news sources such as social media, while nearly one in five (18%) thought that AI-generated content would also erode the industry’s status.

Structural barriers

Findings also reveal a perception of the path into journalism obstructed by systemic barriers. Eighty-one percent report intense competition for jobs, 80% cite low starting wages and high costs of living, and 72% a lack of paid opportunities as barriers to entry. Many point to unpaid work, nepotism and burnout as chronic barriers that drive young talent out of the field, or skew the industry toward those who can afford to take low or unpaid roles.

Nearly half (43%) of respondents say the industry must do more to support early-career journalists,  particularly through fair pay, greater regional opportunities outside London and mental health resources. Almost three-quarters (74%) called for improvements to newsroom hiring practices, and a similar number (71%) demanded both greater access to opportunities for underrepresented voices and changes to editorial decision-making and coverage.

Skills gap

The survey also revealed a gap between the skills gained while training and those required in the newsroom. While emerging journalists feel well trained in writing and research, they feel underprepared in the more modern, digital skills and entrepreneurialism:

  • Digital tools and analytics – ranked 2.9/5
  • Live reporting – 2.9/5
  • Freelancing and sustainability – 2.4/5
  • Business and entrepreneurial skills – 2.1/5
  • AI and automation – 2/5

This “skills mismatch” suggests that traditional journalism education still prioritizes foundational reporting over the digital and commercial capabilities increasingly required to survive in today’s media landscape.

Rebuilding trust in a changing industry

When asked to rate their concerns for the future of journalism, the majority ranked the spread of AI-generated content and misinformation and financial instability/job security as their biggest worries. Declining attention spans and trust in media were close behind, however.

Reflecting these concerns, respondents anticipate a major shift in how audiences consume news, with 63% expecting short-form video to dominate, and 41% anticipating dominance of AI-generated summaries. Recommendations for rebuilding public trust include more engaging storytelling (64%), stronger fact-checking (52%), less sensationalism (50%), community-driven journalism (46%) and greater diversity in reporting perspectives (44%).

“The next generation hasn’t lost faith in journalism’s mission — they’ve lost faith in the structures meant to support it,” said Naomi Owusu, CEO of Tickaroo. “Their scepticism reflects the wider challenge of rebuilding trust in journalism itself, but we can’t rebuild journalism’s credibility if the people entering it already feel alienated by it. Fair pay, mentorship and digital preparedness aren’t optional extras, they’re what journalism’s survival depends on.”

“This generation is ready to redefine journalism, not abandon it,” continued Owusu. “If the industry listens, invests and innovates with them, it can rebuild both trust and sustainability from the ground up.”

Survey methodology

The survey, conducted by Tickaroo, gathered quantitative and qualitative insights from 172 participants, all U.K.-based. Fifty-eight percent were early-career journalists (within five years of starting work), while 42% were current journalism students. The completion rate exceeded 80%, with rich open-text responses providing candid reflections on the profession’s condition. All responses were anonymous and self-reported, allowing participants to share honest perspectives without attribution.

About Tickaroo:

Founded in 2011, Tickaroo helps news, sports and media organizations deliver engaging, real-time stories that build trust and drive audience growth. Trusted by over 350 newsrooms worldwide, its liveblogging platform offers reliable performance, AI-powered workflows and multimedia integration to enhance audience engagement and unlock new revenue opportunities. Easy to implement and use, Tickaroo enables teams to collaborate seamlessly and cover events from anywhere. Customers include Süddeutsche Zeitung, The Irish Independent, Mediahuis, Stuff and the German, Swiss and Austrian Press Agencies.

Tickaroo isn’t just powering today’s newsrooms; it’s shaping the future of reporting by supporting new talent from diverse backgrounds. Through partnerships with universities in Sheffield, Salford, Northampton and Lancashire, the company helps train the next generation of journalists in live, audience-first storytelling.

Tickaroo also serves event organizers and sports organizations, helping them engage audiences in real-time and achieve monetization goals. The company has a dedicated team of developers who create custom media solutions for brands like kicker, the German Handball Federation and ran.de.



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