What's next for 2021....

For the last couple of years now, I have written a predictions post around this time of year. As the holiday season disappears into the rearview mirror of 2020, I have dusted off my crystal ball to see what it might tell us about the year to come.

I looked back at the predictions I made last year and the one glaring omission is any mention of a global pandemic. How things have changed in a short period of time. As the world continues to battle COVID-19, the predictions game might seem a little frivolous. However, with the gradual introduction of vaccines, the way that we live, work, travel and interact is likely to change once again.

Almost all industries and sectors have been impacted in some way by this pandemic. We have seen some businesses pivot successfully and accelerate change whilst others have struggled to adapt. What is certain is that elements of ambiguity and uncertainty will continue and as businesses rightly prioritize health and safety of employees and customers there is no choice but to reimagine so many aspects of the status quo.

Here are some of my predictions from the world of media and publishing. Let me know if you have any of your own.

• Travel will come back and tour operators are already reporting that bucket list trips are being snapped up in record numbers. I predict luxury travel content will make a huge leap forward in 2021 too. 
• ‘Utility Journalism’ will become even more important - harnessing quality journalism to help readers make tricky life decisions (check out WSJ Money if you have not already)
• Publisher partnerships will become lifelines for some operators in the face of a challenged advertising environment
• VR and AR will make serious advancements in the media and publishing space and we will truly start experiencing stories and not just reading, watching or listening to them. 

Whilst the general sense I get is of excitement at the prospect of the year ahead with the promise the vaccine brings, I understand that times are challenging, so wherever you are in the world, I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2021 and I’ll leave you with a powerful thought from a gentleman who had a far superior record in government than I do with predictions.

The most reliable way to predict the future, is to create it - Abraham Lincoln