New Worlds of Journalism Study sheds light on the state of journalism around the world

Communication and Technology  Media Industry and Consumers 

The field of journalism is in a constant state of change, always adapting to new technologies and shifts in culture and public opinions. Since 2007, the Worlds of Journalism Study (WJS) has dedicated itself to tracking these changes by creating a comprehensive report on the state of journalism around the world, with the aim of keeping journalists informed on trends within the field. In October 2025, wave three of the Worlds of Journalism Study was published, with researchers from over 120 countries showcasing their findings.

Among these experts was UF’s Seungahn Nah, the Dianne Snedaker Chair in Media Trust,  Research Director of the Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology and a professor of journalism. Nah joined this study in 2018, right at the start of wave three’s development, and served as the principal investigator for South Korea.

“As the principal investigator, I helped adapt the survey instrument, coordinated data collection and analyzed national responses for global comparison,” said Nah.

Data for this study was collected through surveys sent directly to journalists, asking them questions about their professions and gauging their opinions on topics like ethics, safety, security and the role of journalism in their countries. Responses to the survey sent out in South Korea show that journalists in the country are worried about their safety, with 73% of participants facing demeaning or hateful speech and 52.7% expressing concerns over their physical and mental wellbeing.

South Korean journalists also largely see themselves as watchdogs and problem-solvers, with a majority of participants believing journalists should shed light on social issues, monitor power and combat disinformation. Finally, while 36% of participants believed press freedom in the country to be high, only about a third reported having a great deal or complete freedom in selecting their stories.

“Compared with earlier waves, Korean journalists in Wave 3 also report increased influence of digital platforms, audience participation, and commercial pressures, indicating a shift from more classic role orientations to more complex, hybrid role repertoires,” said Nah.

Many of Nah’s findings in South Korea are consistent with global trends. Concerns about journalists’ physical, psychological, digital and financial safety are on the rise around the world, as well as the shift in attitudes towards the role of journalists in society.

“South Korea aligns with those trends, especially in the hybridization and platform-pressure arenas, though it experiences somewhat better institutional conditions than many countries,” said Nah.

In addition to his role as principal investigator for South Korea, Nah also served as a contributor for the WJS’s report on technology in the newsroom, an examination into how journalists around the world are adapting to and using emerging technologies. The biggest new technology being used in newsrooms around the world is social media, with more than two thirds of participants reporting that they always or often use social media to find stories and more than half using it to promote stories, with the highest usage found in Cuba and other Latin American countries.

They also found that about a third of journalists reported always or often using online analytics tools to monitor their audiences, with the highest usage found in Indonesia and Thailand. While these two technologies are used commonly, other new developments like automated journalism and news personalization were much rarer, with these technologies only seeing adoption rates of 10% or less in the majority of countries surveyed.

With wave three finished, Nah has begun planning for the next wave, where he will continue to serve as principal investigator for South Korea. The data collected for wave three was gathered just before ChatGPT’s wide launch and the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence, so he plans to make AI a major focus of his surveys for wave four.

“This study has inspired us to examine the role of AI technologies in newsrooms and among professional journalists across countries, particularly in relation to AI-assisted news production, dissemination and public engagement,” said Nah.

Posted: November 13, 2025
Insights Categories: Communication and Technology, Media Industry and Consumers
Tagged as: Journalism, Seungahn Nah, Worlds of Journalism Study Report