Online News Outpaces Newspapers
March 10th, 2010
Portia Krebs
As online news sources and mobile apps proliferate across the Internet, consumers are tuning into online media sources in greater numbers than ever before. According to a new study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, online news consumption is now surpassing the popularity of newspapers and radio stations as news platforms, and falls just behind television.
Here are a few interesting highlights from the study showing how Americans get their news, and the areas of interest driving their consumption:
- Multi-Platform Viewing. Today, a staggering 92% of Americans take in the news via multiple platforms, including national and local TV, the Internet, the radio, and local and national newspapers. 46% say they get news from four to six media platforms on an average day, while only 7% consume news from a single media platform.
- Portable & Personalized. News on-the-go via mobile phones is now a trend among 33% of cell phone owners, and 28% of Internet users have customized their home page to include news sources and topics of personal interest.
- Participatory. 37% of Internet users have contributed to creating the news, have commented on it, or have disseminated it via postings on social media sites.
- Why Tune In? 72% of news-following adults say they tune in because they enjoy talking about current events with friends and family. 69% watch due to a social or civic obligation to stay informed. 61% say the news provides valuable information that can help improve their lives. And 44% say the news is an entertaining diversion.
Given the tremendous shift toward online news, more newspapers are beginning to charge their online readers to adapt to what is clearly a growing broadband news trend. With so many news platforms and sources available, free speech and consumer participation in this democratic process is clearly alive and well.
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