Top Five Ridiculous Trends That Are Shaping Media

"Listicles"? We're not on D'Olier St. any more, Toto.... Even the way this is created is different, with templates, hints and media, and easy in-situ editing.

5. Explainers, Data Journalism and Fact-Checking have made every story a conversation

Explainers and their other backlashes, political candidates 'burning' each other on Twitter... the news is just a (louder) voice in the conversation.

4. Ad-Blocking is Coming to Mobile

The ecosystem will need to react to losing its most valuable customers.

3. The Line Between Advertisement and Content is Almost Gone

The 'Faustian Pact' of Native Advertising may have started to displace other kinds of astro-turfing.

2. The New York Times' Most Popular Story of 2013 Was Not an Article

Journalists now need to be programmers.

1. Cat Pictures and Listicles Are Paying For 'Real' News

Take a Look at http://www.buzzfeed.com/news. There's serious political analysis in there, and they're building a team from major media sites.