Year-End Reflections and Looking Ahead to 2026 

As 2025 comes to a close, we look back on what has truly been an eventful year. From the Trump administration’s tariffs and the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence to renewed political tensions among long-standing rivals, such as Iran and Israel, as well as Pakistan and India, to war once again in the Middle East and along Europe’s borders, the world has felt anything but a great place to be in. Adding to this sense of uncertainty, 2025 is on track to be the second or third warmest year on record globally. 

Yet beyond the headlines are the people, their stories, thoughts, and concerns, shaped by these events in ways both visible and unseen. As we close out the year, our team is also taking time to look inward: reflecting on what has shaped us, what we’ve learned, and what excites us most as we step into the year ahead.  

At the end of November, we conducted a survey in which we asked our experts four questions aimed at understanding how their personal worlds are responding to global events and how they see the future unfolding, both for themselves and for journalism. Stay with us and read on. 

In your view, what event or development most shaped journalism in 2025? 

“TikTok’s ‘coming out.’ Romania’s canceled presidential elections were a trigger for awareness about social networks’ negative potential, an already well-known topic, but now it became mainstream.” Iulian Comanescu, Communications specialist  

“The advance of GenAI and the growing use of chatbots to access news. News media will have to figure out how to navigate yet another challenge in the distribution of their content.” Marta Rodriguez-Castro, Associate Professor, University of Santiago de Compostela  

Our experts pointed to how quickly AI became a normal part of journalism in 2025. What has been experimental is now routine, changing how news is produced, distributed, and consumed while also raising concerns about independence, trust, and disinformation, as Filip Świtkowski, a researcher at the University of Warsaw, noted.  

Politics and geopolitics were another major influence, from Donald Trump’s presidency to conflicts and election crises that highlighted the power and risks of social media. At the same time, big platforms pulling back from news support put extra pressure on already fragile newsrooms, especially smaller ones, as Simran Agarwal, Postdoctoral Fellow at Simon Fraser University, said.  

Still, there is hope, as Astrid Söderström, a media expert from Finland, wrote.  Astrid highlighted the growth of reader-supported, membership-based journalism as a sign that the field is trying to reinvent itself and that audiences are willing to support it. 

What space or activity helped you find serenity this year be that a group, an online space, or a personal ritual? 

“It’s been a very stressful year, and it’s been so hard to find serenity. Yet, I managed to devote a lot of time to visiting the magnificent beaches of Galicia (and only discovered 1% of all of them).” Marius Dragomir, Director MJRC  

“I am in the board of a Finnish fact-checking and literacy non-profit, Faktabaari. I very much appreciate the passion and dedication of the team and feel empowered in taking part in their activities.” Minna Aslama Horowitz, Researcher and Head of Interaction, University of Helsinki and DECA Consortium 

Our experts described finding calm by pulling back from the constant flow of news and digital noise and reconnecting with everyday, familiar experiences. For Eva Bognar, Mediaforum Association’s president, based in Hungary, that meant time spent with her son and her close-knit summer community. Others spoke about traveling, being in nature, or finding balance through physical activities like sports, dance, and theater.  

Several experts turned to quieter, more reflective practices such as reading for pleasure, writing, meditation, or gathering with small, supportive artistic or professional groups. Others pointed to the role of meaningful journalism, fact-checking work, or thoughtful newsletters in helping them build a healthier, more intentional relationship with information. 

What book did you enjoy the most this year? 

Robert Cialdini, Pre-Suasion, Adriana Mutu, MJRC fellow , MEDIA expert  

Converging Minds: The Creative Potential of Collaborative AI by Aleksandra Przegalińska and Tamilla Triantoro, Filip Świtkowski, researcher at the University of Warsaw 

Throughout 2025, our experts read and enjoyed books across a variety of topics, from fiction to academic studies. Below is a selection of those books.  

What major event or professional milestone are you preparing for in 2026? 

“Continuing research, consulting work, and publishing as my main professional focus in 2026.” Adriana Mutu, MJRC fellow 

“To start to work for a new organization where I could do more investigation.” Eva Vajda, Media consultant 

Looking ahead to 2026, experts affiliated with our center are preparing for moments of change in their professional lives. They spoke about adjusting to a media environment increasingly shaped by AI, while continuing their work in research, consulting, publishing, or investigation. 

Some of them are getting ready for major transitions: starting new jobs, moving abroad for fellowships, defending a PhD, or launching new projects. Some are focused on building capacity and training young people, others on long-term research into public service media, democracy, or information ecosystems. Eva Bognar mentioned the upcoming Hungarian elections, a pivotal moment in Hungary and an event our research has hinted at this year through the work we have published, including our report on media capture, a collaborative effort with the International Press Institute (IPI). 

Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of movement with new roles, new places, and new ways of working in a changing media landscape. 

Special thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s survey: Astrid Söderström, Iulian Comanescu, Ijeoma Okoli-Onah, Marius Dragomir, Adriana Mutu, Marta Rodríguez-Castro, Filip Świtkowski, Eva Bognar, Eva Vajda, Minna Aslama Horowitz, Simran Agarwal, Mo Li, Pascal Ashuza, Mihaela Groza.  

Cover photo, credit: Miesha Renae Maiden