As the lines between journalists, influencers and content creators blur, 2026 will again push the news industry to adapt to stay relevant. For Elite Truong, product lead at Documented and a veteran of the American Press Institute and The Washington Post, the most effective way for journalists to be successful in this ever-changing environment is to adopt product thinking and work intentionally.
Truong defines product thinking as “an intentional sustainable process or format that has ways to measure success,” which she says journalists can apply with four different perspectives in mind: their audience, their newsroom, the industry at large and their career goals.
To Truong, knowing one’s audience is a pillar of effective journalism. Many journalists rarely interact personally with their readers, leading to a disconnect between what is produced and what is actually needed. At Documented, which serves immigrant communities in New York City, Truong’s eyes were opened to the value of direct engagement.
“I am, for the first time in my career, able to talk with people who regularly follow us because they need our information.”
Documented found that its audience often used WeChat and WhatsApp rather than traditional websites, enabling Truong and her colleagues to meet the audience where they are.
It starts with a simple question: “How do I know who I’m reaching and what they need and want to know?”
This can help journalists to identify patterns and analyze what their specific audience responds best to instead of trying to follow every microtrend.
Once you have identified your audience and their needs, a journalist should identify their most frequent deliverable and how to measure its success. It’s also important to know how your boss or organization measures success, especially if it’s different from your own evaluation.
Understanding the goals and systems of your current organization is crucial in order to make effective adaptations, such as incorporating the use of AI.
Combatting Burnout with Product Thinking
In a world where so many media are utilized, from video and radio to social media and the written word, focusing on developing certain skills can mitigate overwhelm and burnout.
“There are so many things to think about for multi-channel reporting nowadays,” she said. “When you started in journalism, did you have to think about all these different formats?” Truong said newsrooms will learn to “cherry pick and not have to do all of these different things, because we’re not going to do all these different things well.”
Truong said it’s important to take a step back and identify opportunities that align with your values and goals.
“You have the power to evolve your own job and role,” Truong said, encouraging journalists to take agency over their career paths and think of themselves as she does: “a real changemaker.”
Access the full transcript here.
This fellowship is funded by the Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation and the John C. and Ethel C. Eklund Scholarship Fund. NPF is solely responsible for the content.
