Guide

Is your news organization ready for what’s next? Take our new diagnostic to find out

By Cheryl Thompson-Morton

June 25, 2026

2030 is less than four years away, and even in that short time successful news organizations will look different than they do today.

Audience relationships are becoming more direct and personalized. Search traffic is becoming less reliable. Artificial intelligence is changing how newsrooms operate and how individuals access information. Revenue models continue to evolve, and legacy platforms are becoming less predictable sources of audience and revenue growth.

These shifts are already underway, and the 2030 Newsroom Readiness Diagnostic helps news organizations evaluate how prepared they are for them. I developed the tool, drawing on lessons from supporting news organizations across the country as they navigate audience, revenue, technology, and organizational change.

To use the diagnostic, you’ll answer a series of questions about your newsroom’s current practices, capabilities, and business model. Once completed, you’ll receive a personalized readiness profile sent to your email that identifies strengths, areas for growth, and recommended resources to help your organization prepare for the future.

The diagnostic evaluates your organization’s readiness across four areas:

• Audience Development & Engagement: How effectively you build direct audience relationships, use first-party data, develop digital products, and adapt to changing audience behaviors and discovery channels.
• Revenue Generation: The diversity, durability, and sustainability of your revenue streams, as well as your readiness to reduce reliance on legacy revenue sources.
• Operations & Technology: The strength of your technology stack, operational infrastructure, and ability to leverage AI and automation to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Workforce & Organizational Models: Your organization’s approach to leadership development, succession planning, staff training, and long-term organizational resilience.

Your results will provide a snapshot of your newsroom’s readiness for 2030 and connect you with relevant resources, communities of practice, and expert support available through The Lenfest Institute.

The goal is not to predict the future. It is to help your organization build the capabilities, systems, and strategies needed to adapt to whatever comes next.

Take the diagnostic Take the diagnostic