Guest Max Tani, media reporter at Semafor, discusses the impact of Donald Trump's entry into the presidential race on the journalism industry. They explore the 'Trump bump' phenomenon and its temporary benefits, but also raise concerns about its effects on democracy and the challenges faced by news organizations.
The 'Trump bump' in the news industry concealed underlying issues like declining advertising revenue and over-reliance on digital platforms.
News organizations faced a significant drop in viewership and subscription numbers after Trump left office, highlighting the challenge of generating interest and maintaining high audience numbers without new and compelling candidates.
Deep dives
The Trump Bump and the Decline of Journalism
The Trump bump was a phenomenon in the news industry where coverage of Donald Trump attracted viewers and readers, leading to increased revenue. However, it masked deeper problems in the news industry, such as declining advertising revenue and over-reliance on digital platforms. When Trump left office, there was a significant drop in viewership and subscription numbers for news organizations. The decline in audience interest in politics and the lack of new developments with Trump as a candidate impacted the news business. News organizations are now grappling with the challenge of finding new ways to stay essential and cultivate stronger bonds with their core audience.
The Impact of the 2024 Election on Journalism
The 2024 presidential election did not provide the expected boost for journalism. With Donald Trump and Joe Biden as the likely candidates, news organizations were cautious about investing resources in election coverage. The traditional election year trappings, such as debates and town halls, experienced a decrease in viewership. The challenging situation for the news industry is exacerbated by technological changes, declining advertising revenue, and changing news consumption habits. The lack of new and compelling candidates has made it difficult for news organizations to generate interest and maintain high audience numbers.
The Future of Journalism: Cultivating Strong Audience Bonds
As the news industry faces ongoing challenges, there is no silver bullet solution to fix the decline in journalism. News organizations are exploring alternative models, such as nonprofit and subscription-based approaches, to generate revenue. Cultivating strong bonds with their audience, particularly through subscription models like Slate Plus, is seen as a promising strategy. By remaining essential to the core audience that values their perspective and news coverage, news organizations have a chance to thrive despite the challenges of the digital age. Managing costs and focusing on audience engagement will be crucial in shaping the future of journalism.
Donald Trump was, if nothing else, a boon for the news business. But this election cycle, even the “Trump bump” isn’t slowing the shrinking of the audience.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.