Results of news consumption research and interviews
In this investigation, each of the participants consumes news daily in some form. However, there are increasingly more ways to access the news and therefore the way in which people consume daily news can vary widely. Here is a summary of my findings:
- Online news is becoming an increasingly popular way of obtaining news due to its accessibility.
- Most adults continue to read a newspaper daily, as well as sometimes referring to online news websites.
- Comments suggest that online news is used mostly in reference to a particular news item or article. This is likely to be due to the search facility on news websites, which allows users to search key words to find particular items of interest.
- Those who read newspapers do so as a means of relaxation as well as to keep up with current affairs (perhaps reading the newspaper whilst ‘having a coffee’ or during a journey to work). This activity requires a hard copy newspaper, rather than reading from an on-screen version.
- Those who read newspapers are also more likely to consume news daily, as their newspaper is most often delivered to their door. Online news requires actively seeking the news without reminder.
- For men in particular, sports coverage played an important part in their new consumption, and most commented that they would prefer to consume this via television, as this often provides re-plays of specific events or goals for example.
- Those younger than sixth form tend to have very little interest or knowledge in current affairs or politics. Girls read fashion or gossip magazines based around celebrity news, and boys tend to read comics, or sports news.
- However, at sixth form or university level, students begin to take more interest in politics and like to keep up-to-date with current affairs. Often they choose to do this via the Internet or television, which their generation is more associated with.
