Digital News Report 2019

Reuters Institute
Digital News Report 2019

Reuters Institute
Digital News Report 2019
Nic Newman with Richard Fletcher, Antonis Kalogeropoulos,
and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen
Supported by
Surveyed by
© Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2019
Contents
Foreword by Rasmus Kleis Nielsen 5 3.14 Italy 94

Methodology6 3.15 Netherlands 96
Authorship and Research Acknowledgements 7 3.16 Norway 98
3.17 Poland 100
SECTION 1 3.18 Portugal 102
Executive Summary and Key Findings by Nic Newman 9 3.19 Romania 104
3.20 Slovakia 106
SECTION 2 3.21 Spain 108
Further Analysis and International Comparison 33 3.22 Sweden 110
2.1 Paying for News and the Limits of Subscription 34 3.23 Switzerland 112
2.2 Groups and Private Networks – Time Well Spent? 38 3.24 Turkey 114
2.3 The Rise of Populism and the Consequences AMERICAS
for News and Media Use 42
3.25 United States 118
2.4 What do People Think about the News Media? 49
3.26 Argentina 120
2.5 How Younger Generations Consume News Differently 55
3.27 Brazil 122
2.6 Podcasts: Who, Why, What, and Where? 60
3.28 Canada 124
3.29 Chile 126
SECTION 3
3.30 Mexico 128
Analysis by Country 65
ASIA PACIFIC
EUROPE
3.31 Australia 132
3.01 United Kingdom 68
3.32 Hong Kong 134
3.02 Austria 70
3.33 Japan 136
3.03 Belgium 72
3.34 Malaysia 138
3.04 Bulgaria 74
3.35 Singapore 140
3.05 Croatia 76
3.36 South Korea 142
3.06 Czech Republic 78
3.37 Taiwan 144
3.07 Denmark 80
AFRICA
3.08 Finland 82
3.38 South Africa 148
3.09 France 84
3.10 Germany 86
SECTION 4
3.11 Greece 88
References152
3.12 Hungary 90
Selected Publications 153
3.13 Ireland 92
4 / 5
Foreword
Professor Rasmus Kleis Nielsen
Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ)
Journalism exists in the context of its audience, and if journalists As with previous reports we shed light on the questions these
(and those who care about journalism) are to understand and developments raise through a combination of survey data,
navigate the changing environment around news, it is critically qualitative research, and intelligence from expert contributors
important that they have access to relevant, robust, independent across all of our countries. We have also looked in much more
evidence and analysis on how people across countries engage detail at the news and media habits of younger people who
with and use news. have grown up with digital media and products and services like
Facebook and YouTube and differ in important ways from older
That is what we aim to provide in the Reuters Institute Digital
generations. We conducted a series of in-depth interviews and
News Report, here in its eighth annual iteration. The report
tracking studies in the United Kingdom and the United States
provides important new insights into key issues including
that we draw on in the relevant sections here and we will publish
people’s willingness to pay for news, the move to private
a full report on the topic later in the year.
messaging applications and groups, and how people see
news media around the world performing their role. A report of this scale and scope is only possible due to collaboration
from our partners and sponsors around the world. We are proud to
The report is based on a survey of more than 75,000 people
have the opportunity to work with a number of leading academics
in 38 markets, along with additional qualitative research, which
and top universities in the report, as well as media experts from
together make it the most comprehensive ongoing comparative
the news industry itself. Our partners have helped in a variety of
study of news consumption in the world.
different ways, from preparing country profiles to in-depth analysis
Europe remains a key focus, with 24 countries included, but we of the results.
also cover seven markets in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan,
Given the richness of the research, this report can only convey
Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia) along with four
a small part of the data collected and work done. More detail
Latin American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico)
is available on our website (www.digitalnewsreport.org), which
as well as the United States and Canada. We are also delighted
contains slidepacks and charts, along with a licence that
to include South Africa for the first time this year, following on
encourages reuse, subject to attribution to the Reuters Institute.
from our first stand-alone India Digital News Report, published
On the website, there is also a full description of our survey
earlier this year, part of our effort to make our research more
methodology, the full questionnaire, and an interactive charting
truly global.
feature, which allows data to be compared across countries, and
The report has expanded more than sevenfold since its creation, over time. Raw data tables are also available on request along with
from five countries in 2012 to 38 this year, and as we work to make documentation for reuse.
the report more fully global, we are proud to have been able to
Making all this possible, we are hugely grateful to our sponsors:
add more from the South this year. As we use online polling and
Google, BBC News, Ofcom, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland,
need to make meaningful comparisons, we continue to focus on
the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM), the Media Industry Research
countries with high internet penetration and which are either
Foundation of Finland, the Fritt Ord Foundation in Norway, the
broadly democratic or generally compare themselves to countries
Korea Press Foundation, Edelman UK, as well as our academic
with a democratic tradition. (We have kept India separate from
sponsors at the Hans Bredow Institute, the University of Navarra,
the main Digital News Report for this reason – internet use is not
the University of Canberra, the Centre d’études sur les médias,
yet widespread enough there to make our online sample directly
Québec, Canada, and Roskilde University in Denmark. The Open
comparable to the countries covered here.)
Society Foundations has joined as our newest sponsor, allowing
This year’s report comes amid a complex set of challenges for us to expand the report to cover South Africa (and has committed
the news industry specifically and for our media environment to supporting the inclusion of additional countries in the global
more broadly, including the ongoing disruption of inherited south next year).
business models for news, constant evolution in how people
We are also grateful to YouGov, our polling company, who did
use digital media (and the ways in which we are constantly
everything possible to accommodate our increasingly complex
reminded of how some of the information they come across is
requirements and helped our research team analyse and
untrustworthy and sometimes spread with malicious intent),
contextualise the data.
and social upheaval associated with the rise of populism and
with low trust in many institutions.

Methodology
This study has been commissioned by the Reuters Institute • It is important to note that some of our survey-based results
for the Study of Journalism to understand how news is being will not match industry data, which are often based on very
consumed in a range of countries. Research was conducted by different methodologies, such as web-tracking. The accuracy
YouGov using an online questionnaire at the end of January/ of these approaches can be very high, but they are also subject
beginning of February 2019. to different limitations, meaning that data can also be partial
or incomplete. We will often look at this data to sense check
• Samples in each country were assembled using nationally
our results or help identify potential problems with our survey
representative quotas for age, gender, region, and education.1
data before publication. On occasions we will include industry
The data were also weighted to targets based on census/
data as supporting evidence with appropriate attribution.
industry accepted data.
• Each year we also commission some qualitative research to
• As this survey deals with news consumption, we filtered out
support and complement the survey. This year, we worked with
anyone who said that they had not consumed any news in the
Flamingo, an international market research company, to look
past month, in order to ensure that irrelevant responses didn’t
in detail at the habits and behaviours of younger groups in the
adversely affect data quality. This category averaged around 3%.
United States and United Kingdom. The methodology included
• We should note that online samples will tend to under- tracking actual online behaviour of 20 participants for several
represent the consumption habits of people who are not weeks, in-depth interviews, and small group discussions with
online (typically older, less affluent, and with limited formal their friends. Insights and quotes from this research are used
education). In this sense it is better to think of results as to support this year’s Digital News Report but will also form
representative of online populations who use news at least a separate report to be published in September.
once a month. In a country like Norway this is almost everyone
• Along with country-based figures, throughout the report
(99%) but in South Africa this is around half (54%).
we also use aggregate figures based on responses from all
• These differences mean we need to be cautious when comparing respondents across all the countries covered. These figures
results between countries. We have marked countries with lower are meant only to indicate overall tendencies and should
internet penetration or less representative online samples with be treated with caution.
an asterisk (*) in the table below and have been careful in the
• Due to a scripting error we needed to repoll respondents for
report not to directly compare these countries on issues where
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS one question in Norway about the use of social networks for
we know that the sample difference would make results invalid
Slide 3
(e.g. paying for news).
news. 1,387 of the original 2,000 sample responded to the
recontact request and the results are included on the Norway
• It is also important to note that online surveys rely on recall, country page.
which is often imperfect or subject to biases. We have tried
• A fuller description of the methodology, panel partners, and
to mitigate these risks through careful questionnaire design
a discussion of non-probability sampling techniques can
and testing. On the other hand, surveys can be a good way of
be found on our website along with the full questionnaire
capturing fragmented media consumption across platforms
(digitalnewsreport.org)
(e.g. social media, messaging, apps, and websites), and tracking
activities and changes over time.
Country Final sample Internet Country Final sample Internet Country Final sample Internet
size penetration size penetration size penetration
Europe Italy 2006 92% Brazil* 2013 71%
UK 2023 95% Netherlands 2026 96% Canada 2055 90%
Austria 2010 88% Norway 2013 99% Chile 2004 78%
Belgium 2008 94% Poland 2009 78% Mexico* 2015 65%
Bulgaria* 2018 66% Portugal 2010 78% Asia Pacific
Croatia 2009 91% Romania 2004 74% Australia 2010 88%
Czech Republic 2023 88% Slovakia 2045 85% Hong Kong 2056 87%
Denmark 2011 97% Spain 2005 93% Japan 2017 93%
Finland 2009 94% Sweden 2007 97% Malaysia* 2101 78%
France 2005 93% Switzerland 2003 91% Singapore 2033 84%
Germany 2022 96% Turkey* 2074 68% South Korea 2035 93%
Greece 2018 70% Americas Taiwan 1005 88%
Hungary 2007 89% USA 2012 96% Africa
Ireland 2013 93% Argentina 2006 93% South Africa* 2009 54%
Source: Internet World Stats (http://www.internetworldstats.com). Please note that in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Greece, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey our samples tend to be based more around
urban areas, which should be taken into consideration when interpreting results. *These countries have lower internet penetration so results may not be comparable for some measures.
Education quotas were not applied (or not fully applied) in Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Malaysia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey so these samples will have a higher
1
proportion of highly educated people than the general population.

6 / 7
Authorship and research

acknowledgements
Professor Rasmus Kleis Nielsen is Director of the Reuters Institute for the
Study of Journalism, Professor of Political Communication at the University
of Oxford, and served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Press/
Politics from 2015 to 2018. His work focuses on changes in the news media,
political communication, and the role of digital technologies in both.
Nic Newman is Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute for

the Study of Journalism and is also a consultant on digital media, working
actively with news companies on product, audience, and business
strategies for digital transition. He also writes an annual report for
the Institute on future media and technology trends.
Dr Richard Fletcher is a Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute for the

Study of Journalism. He is primarily interested in global trends in digital
news consumption, the use of social media by journalists and news
organisations, and more broadly, the relationship between computer-
based technologies and journalism.
Dr Antonis Kalogeropoulos is a Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute

for the Study of Journalism. His doctoral work was focused on the effects
of exposure to economic news. His research interests include political
communication, journalism, and audience research.
Country-level commentary and additional insight around media

developments have been provided by academic partners and by our
network of Reuters Journalist Fellows around the world.2 Authorship is
referenced at the bottom of the respective country page in Section 3.
Additional expert analysis and interpretation of the survey data were

provided by Anne Schulz at the Reuters Institute, and by the team at
YouGov, in particular Charlotte Clifford, Justin Marshall, Sloane Francis
Grant, Lucie Larboulette, David Eastbury, Stephanie Frost, and Anna Wilson.
Reuters Fellowships offer an opportunity to mid-career journalists to spend time researching an aspect of journalism for one or more terms at the Institute in Oxford.
2

8 / 9
Section 1
Executive Summary
and Key Findings
Nic Newman
Senior Research Associate,
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

This year’s report comes against the backdrop of A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
rising populism, political and economic instability, FINDINGS FROM OUR 2019 RESEARCH.
along with intensifying concerns about giant tech • Despite the efforts of the news industry, we find only a
companies and their impact on society. News small increase in the numbers paying for any online news –
whether by subscription, membership, or donation. Growth
organisations have taken the lead in reporting
is limited to a handful of countries mainly in the Nordic
these trends, but also find themselves challenged region (Norway 34%, Sweden 27%) while the number
by them – further depressing an industry reeling paying in the US (16%) remains stable after a big jump
in 2017.
from more than a decade of digital disruption.
Platform power – and the ruthless efficiency of • Even in countries with higher levels of payment, the vast majority
only have ONE online subscription – suggesting that ‘winner
their advertising operations – has undermined takes all’ dynamics are likely to be important. One encouraging
news business models contributing to a series of development though is that most payments are now ‘ongoing’,
high-profile layoffs in traditional (Gannett) and rather than one-offs.
digital media (Mic, BuzzFeed) in the early part of • In some countries, subscription fatigue may also be setting
2019. Political polarisation has encouraged the in, with the majority preferring to spend their limited budget
on entertainment (Netflix/Spotify) rather than news. With
growth of partisan agendas online, which together many seeing news as a ‘chore’, publishers may struggle to
with clickbait and various forms of misinformation substantially increase the market for high-priced ‘single title’
is helping to further undermine trust in media – subscriptions. As more publishers launch pay models, over
two-thirds (70%) of our sample in Norway and half (50%) in
raising new questions about how to deliver the United States now come across one or more barriers
balanced and fair reporting in the digital age. each week when trying to read online news.
Against this background we are seeing some real shifts of focus. • In many countries, people are spending less time with
News organisations are increasingly looking to subscription Facebook and more time with WhatsApp and Instagram
and membership or other forms of reader contribution to pay than this time last year. Few users are abandoning Facebook
the bills in a so-called ‘pivot to paid’. Platforms are rethinking entirely, though, and it remains by far the most important
their responsibilities in the face of events (Christchurch attacks, social network for news.
Molly Russell suicide) and regulatory threats, with Facebook • Social communication around news is becoming more
rebalancing its business towards messaging apps and groups – private as messaging apps continue to grow everywhere.
the so-called ‘pivot to private’. Meanwhile audiences continue WhatsApp has become a primary network for discussing
to embrace on-demand formats with new excitement around and sharing news in non-Western countries like Brazil (53%)
podcasts (New York Times, Guardian) and voice technologies – Malaysia (50%), and South Africa (49%).
the so-called ‘pivot to audio’.
• People in these countries are also far more likely than in the
And amid all this frenetic change, some are beginning to question West to be part of large WhatsApp groups with people they
whether the news media are still fulfilling their basic mission don’t know – a trend that reflects how messaging applications
of holding powerful people to account and helping audiences can be used to easily share information at scale, potentially
understand the world around them. The questioning comes in the encouraging the spread of misinformation. Public and private
form of government inquiries in some countries into the future Facebook Groups discussing news and politics have become
sustainability of quality journalism (with recommendations as to popular in Turkey (29%) and Brazil (22%) but are much less used
what can be done to support it). But it also comes from parts of in Western countries such as Canada (7%) or Australia (7%).
the public who feel that the news media often fall short of what
• Concern about misinformation and disinformation remains
people expect from them.
high despite efforts by platforms and publishers to build public
Our report this year, based on data from almost 40 countries and confidence. In Brazil 85% agree with a statement that they are
six continents, aims to cast light on these key issues, principally worried about what is real and fake on the internet. Concern
through our survey data but supplemented with in-depth qualitative is also high in the UK (70%) and US (67%), but much lower
research on the news habits of young people in the UK and US. The in Germany (38%) and the Netherlands (31%).
overall story is captured in this Executive Summary, followed by • Across all countries, the average level of trust in the news in
Section 2 with chapters containing additional analysis on key general is down 2 percentage points to 42% and less than half
themes and then individual country pages in Section 3 carrying (49%) agree that they trust the news media they themselves
additional context provided by local experts in each market. use. Trust levels in France have fallen to just 24% (-11) in the
last year as the media have come under attack over their
coverage of the Yellow Vests movement. Trust in the news
found via search (33%) and social media remains stable
but extremely low (23%).
10 / 11
• Worries about the quality of information may be good for SOME GROWTH LEFT BUT THE LIMITS AROUND
trusted news brands. Across countries over a quarter (26%) ‘SINGLE PUBLICATION’ NEWS SUBSCRIPTION
say they have started relying on more ‘reputable’ sources BECOME CLEAR
of news – rising to 40% in the US. A further quarter (24%)
said they had stopped using sources that had a dubious In the last year a number of publishers have added paywalls and
reputation in the last year. But the often low trust in news membership schemes while others have reported significant
overall, and in many individual brands, underlines this is increases in digital subscription, but our data suggest this has not
not a development that will help all in the industry. yet had a substantial impact. We see a slight increase in online
payment in some countries and a stable picture in the US (after
• The news media are seen as doing a better job at breaking
a big jump in 2017) but in general we have seen little change in
news than explaining it. Across countries, almost two-thirds
the last six years. The proportion paying for news (subscriptions,
feel the media are good at keeping people up to date (62%),
memberships, donations, and other one-off payments) has
but are less good at helping them understand the news REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
remained stable at 11% in nine countries (averaged) that we have
(51%). Less than half (42%) think the media do a good job Slide 4
been following since 2013. Most people are not prepared to pay for
in holding rich and powerful people to account – and this
online news today and on current trends look unlikely to pay in the
figure is much lower in South Korea (21%), Hungary (20%),
future, at least for the kind of news they currently access for free.
and Japan (17%).
• There are also significant differences within countries, as PROPORTION THAT PAID FOR ANY ONLINE NEWS IN THE
people with higher levels of formal education are more LAST YEAR (2013–19) – SELECTED COUNTRIES
likely to evaluate the news media positively along every 40% USA UK Germany 9 country average
dimension than the rest of the population, suggesting that
the news agenda is more geared towards the interests and
30%
needs of the more educated. Trump bump maintained
from 2017
• To understand the rise of populism and its consequences for 20%
news and media use, we have used two questions to identify 16%
people with populist attitudes, and compared their news and 11% 11%
10% 10% 9%
media use with those of non-populists. People with populist 8% 8% 8%
attitudes are more likely to identify television as their main
source of news, more likely to rely on Facebook for online 0%
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
news, and less likely to trust the news media overall.
Slide 5
Q7a. Have you paid for ONLINE news content, or accessed a paid for ONLINE news service in the
• More people say they actively avoid the news (32%) than when last year? Base: Total 2013-19 sample in each country ≈ 2000, Finland 2014-15 ≈ 1500. Note: 9 country
we last asked this question two years ago. Avoidance is up 6 average includes US, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and Finland (from 2014 onwards).
percentage points overall and 11 points in the UK, driven by

boredom, anger, or sadness over Brexit. People say they avoid See also Norway Sweden
the news because it has a negative effect on their mood (58%)
40%
or because they feel powerless to change events.
34%
• The smartphone continues to grow in importance for news, 30%
with two-thirds (66%) now using the device to access news 27% 27%
weekly (+4pp). Mobile news aggregators like Apple News
20% 20%
and Upday are becoming a more significant force. Apple
News in the United States now reaches more iPhone users
(27%) than the Washington Post (23%). 10%
• The growth of the smartphone has also been driving the

0%
popularity of podcasts, especially with the young. More 2016 2017 2018 2019
than a third of our combined sample (36%) say they have
consumed at least one podcast over the last month but this Norway 34% (+4) Australia 14% Spain 10%
rises to half (50%) for those under 35. The mobile phone Sweden 27% (+1) Ireland 12% Austria 9%
is the most used device (55%) for podcast listening. Finland 16% (-2) Netherlands 11% Canada 9%
Denmark 15% (-) Switzerland 11% Japan 7%
• Voice-activated smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and
Google Home continue to grow rapidly. Usage for any purpose
has risen from 9% to 12% in the United States, from 7% to With the exception of the United States, the biggest growth has
14% in the UK, from 5% to 11% in Canada, and from 4% to 8% taken place in two markets, Norway and Sweden, where a small
in Australia. Despite this, we find that usage for news remains number of media houses have a strong position. Schibsted, as one
low in all markets. example, reaches around 80% of consumers in both countries3
and, since 2016, has focused many of its quality and tabloid
brands on premium, metered, and hybrid subscription models.
https://schibsted.com/news/schibsted-will-be-divided-into-two-companies/
3

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2019 REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 7
This Nordic success story becomes even clearer when we look PROFILE OF DIGITAL-ONLY NEWS SUBSCRIBERS – USA
at digital-only subscribers, removing those who get digital access
with a print subscription or those who have a subscription that WHO PAYS IN THE UNITED STATES?
is paid by someone else. Here we find 15% in Norway and 14% in
Sweden, 6% in Finland and Denmark, but just 4% in the UK and
3% in Spain and Italy. The equivalent figure in the United States
Degree level or Richer groups Those with very high
is 8%. This is a purer measure of those who are prepared to use above twice as almost three times interest in the news
their own money to pay for a single title online news subscription. likely to pay as likely to pay five times as likely
On top ofINSTITUTE
REUTERS the raw FOR
numbers, industry
THE STUDY data reveal
OF JOURNALISM that Norwegians
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS as average as those on lower to pay as those with
Slide 6
and Swedes are prepared to pay online for tabloid titles VG and incomes low interest
Aftenbladet (freemium models) as well as more upmarket titles DIGITAL ONLY SUBSCRIPTIONS/REPORTING PERIOD
such as AftenPosten and Dagens Nyheter.
New York Times Wall Street Journal Washington Post
PROPORTION OF DIGITAL-ONLY SUBSCRIBERS – 3,300,000 1,500,000 1,200,000*

SELECTED MARKETS ‘19 Q1 ‘18 Q4 ‘18 Q3
(Excluding print/digital bundles)
Q7ai. Which, if any, of the following ways have you used to pay for ONLINE news content in
the last year? Base: Total sample: USA = 2012. * Washington Post approx. figures.
But these big brand successes are not replicated across the US
market. A recent Business Insider survey showed the New York
Times and Washington Post together attracting more than half
of all of US news subscribers,5 while our data show few people
are currently prepared to pay for more than one online news
subscription. In Germany, for example, 70% of those that pay
have just one subscription. Only 10% are prepared to pay for three
or more (see chart below). This means that though big national
brands like Bild (423,000 digital subscribers) and Zeit (105,000)
are having some success in charging for online news it may be
hard to persuade people to pay for another national or local paper.
REUTERS
This mayINSTITUTE FOR THE
help explain whySTUDY OF JOURNALISM
very few / FURTHER
local or regional ANALYSIS
publishers
Ongoing subscription %
2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Slide 8
report success with digital subscription models – outside of the
Nordic countries, France (Ouest-France and Nice-Matin), and some
major cities in the US.
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS/REPORTING PERIOD
NUMBER OF NEWS ORGANISATIONS THAT PEOPLE PAID
Norway
MONEY TO IN THE LAST YEAR – GERMANY
Verdens Gang (VG) Aftenposten
80%
150,000 ‘18 Q1 108,000 ‘18 Q2 70
Sweden 60%
Aftonbladet Dagens Nyheter
250,000 ‘17 Q4 160,000 ‘18 Q4
40%
20
Q7ai. Which, if any, of the following ways have you used to pay for ONLINE news content in the
last year? Base: Total sample in each country ≈ 2000. Digital Subscriptions data via FIPP 2019 Global
20%
Subscription Report4. Dagens Nyheter via direct communication. 6 3 1
0%
1 2 3 4 5+
By contrast, in the United States, the main subscription focus has
Q7_SUBS. You say you have paid a subscription or made an on-going donation to a digital news
been at the quality end of the market. The New York Times now service in the last year. How many different news providers do you regularly pay money to?
Base: All who paid for online news in the last year: Germany = 119.
has over 3m digital subscribers (out of a total of 4 million) and
the Washington Post around 1m. Overall, almost one in ten (8%) of
our US sample are digital-only subscribers (up from 3% in 2016).
Global brands like the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times have The US and Nordic countries have shown the potential for
also clocked impressive numbers. The FT recently passed 1m total considerable growth in paid content, but these are rich countries
subscribers – around 740,000 of whom are digital-only. where news has historically had a high reputation and value –
something that may not be replicable elsewhere. The dominance
of a few big national and global brands suggests that others
may need to look at alternative models or at least ones where
subscription is just part of a more diversified revenue strategy.
https://www.fipp.com/news/insightnews/publishers-double-down-paywall-content-digital-subscriptions-revenue
4
Business Insider online poll conducted by Dynata, Feb. 2019 https://www.businessinsider.com/only-a-few-publishers-will-be-able-to-sell-subscriptions-at-scale-2019-3

5
12 /
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS 13
Slide 10
NEWS NOW COMPETES WITH OTHER ‘MORE PROPORTION THAT SEE A NEWS PAYWALL EACH WEEK –
ATTRACTIVE’ MEDIA BUNDLES NORWAY AND USA
At the same time as news publishers are asking for online

payments and memberships, entertainment providers such as
Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Prime are generating
billions of dollars via premium services. Netflix alone has around 70% 50%
150m subscribers including 60m in the United States. But might hit one or more paywalls each hit one or more paywalls each
the growth of these services – along with sport, online gaming, week when reading news week when reading news
dating, and media storage – mean that there will be less appetite to
Q7_SUBS3. How often do you click on a link, expecting to read an article, and find yourself
pay for news? While the ‘culture of free’ that many associate with asked to pay for a subscription instead? Base: Total sample: Norway = 2013, USA = 2012.
the internet is clearly evolving, some worry about the impact of
so-called subscription fatigue – the notion that people are becoming
The fear is that increased friction could put people off news entirely,
frustrated with being asked to pay separately for many different
especially those who are already under-engaged. On the other
services online. In the light of these concerns, we asked people what
hand, it is possible that this is part of a transition in which more
online media subscription they would pick if they could only have one
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS people accept that quality news provision needs to be paid for. In
Slide 9
for the next 12 months. Not surprisingly, news comes low down the
list when compared with other services such as Netflix and Spotify –
open-ended comments, we find some people accepting, some
irritated, with others worried about the implications for democracy.
especially for the younger half of the population.
“[Paywalls are] an understandable way to raise revenue
in the face of decreasing ad revenue but I prefer the
PROPORTION OF UNDER 45s THAT WOULD PICK EACH IF Guardian model, which doesn’t limit access to just
THEY COULD ONLY HAVE ONE ONLINE MEDIA SUBSCRIPTION
those who can afford it.”
FOR THE NEXT YEAR – SELECTED MARKETS
Female, 43, UK
“The majority of the population probably cannot and will

not be able to afford to pay for good reporting services.
This is a major issue for democracy worldwide. ”
37% 15% 7% Male, 34, UK
Online Video Online Music Online News
(e.g. Netflix, (e.g. Spotify, (e.g. New York Times,
Amazon Prime) Apple Music) Le Monde)
FURTHER BUNDLING AHEAD?
Q_VALUE_2019_A. If you could only have one for the next 12 months, which one of the following
would you choose? Base: Under 45s: selected countries = 13,427. Note. This question was asked in 14
countries: US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Our research suggests there may be a disconnect between
Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Australia, and Canada. current publisher strategies of selling individual titles (for a
relatively high price) and consumer desire for frictionless access
to multiple brands. Almost half of those who are interested in
Encouragingly, news fared considerably better with older groups news (49%) consume more than four different online sources
(15%), but still lagged behind online entertainment services each week – a number that rises significantly for under 35s.
(30%). In previous years we have shown that young people are
comfortable paying for online services, but news is not valued as Donation models, such as the one operated by the Guardian
much and is often seen as difficult or even a chore by comparison. newspaper – and some local news organisations in the United
States – have been suggested as an alternative to paywalls, but
“It’s probably awful but it’s an entertainment aspect. these still make up a small percentage of the market. In the
[People] are paying for a service that is giving them last year just 3% in the United States gave money to a news
entertainment.” organisation, 2% in Spain, and 1% in the UK.
Amy, UK, in-depth interview 2019
Another alternative could be bundling and aggregation. The Times
For further analysis see section 2.1: Paying for News and the Limits of London offers free access to the Wall Street Journal while the
of Subscription Washington Post bundles cheaper access via Amazon Prime.
The New York Times is offering a joint subscription with Scribd
while Dagens Nyheter in Sweden is partnering with Bookbeat
GROWING FRICTION AROUND NEWS around audio and ebooks.6 These added-value bundles may
CONSUMPTION become more important as markets get saturated and customer
retention becomes a burning issue. Growth is harder to come
Meanwhile we find evidence that the significant expansion of
by in the United States, with 40% of new subscribers at the
paywalls may be affecting user experience: 70% in Norway and
New York Times now joining up for cooking and crosswords –
around half in the USA, Denmark, Australia, and the Netherlands
a different kind of bundling.7
say they see payment barriers at least weekly. Heavy news users,
digital subscribers, and younger users are even more likely to see
these barriers.
https://thenewpublishingstandard.com/scribd-nyt-subscription-deal-swedens-bookbeat-ties-bundled-deal-dagens-nyheter-storytels-rivals-challenges-ahead/
6
https://www.recode.net/2018/8/9/17671000/new-york-times-trump-subscribers-news-slower-growth
7

Slide 13
Waiting in the wings come platform aggregators such as Apple FOUR MODELS OF ONLINE ACCESS – SELECTED MARKETS
News+, offering a single priced subscription for multiple premium
titles forINSTITUTE
REUTERS $9.99. Most
FORpremium
THE STUDYnews publishers/ FURTHER
OF JOURNALISM have stayed out
ANALYSIS
1. MAINLY DIRECT
Slide 11
for now for risk of cannibalising their markets, but the industry
will need to address consumer concerns about accessing multiple 64
60%
Finland
brands at a reasonable price sooner rather than later. Also Norway, Sweden
45%
FRUSTRATION OVER PAYWALLS COULD PUSH CONSUMERS
INTO THE ARMS OF AGGREGATORS
30%
15%
11 10 3 3
6
0%
Direct Search Social Mobile Aggregator Email
media alerts
2. SOCIAL FIRST
60%
Chile
Also Brazil, Malaysia
Note. Apple News+ brings content from 300+ newspapers and magazines into a single experience 45%
(US and Canada only) – includes some Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times content
42
30%
GATEWAYS TO NEWS AND THE RISE 21

19
OF AGGREGATION 15%
8 4 5
One of the biggest implications of the shift to online news has
0%
been the weakening of the direct relationship between readers Direct Search Social Mobile Aggregator Email
media alerts
and publishers. Across all our countries, just 29% now say they
prefer to access a website or app directly – down 3 percentage
3. DEEPLY AGGREGATED
points on a year ago. Over half of our combined sample (55%)
60%
prefer to access news through search engines, social media, or South Korea
Also Japan, Taiwan
news aggregators, where large tech companies typically deploy
algorithms rather than editors to select and rank stories. 45% 48
Behind the averages, however, we find very significant country

differences and can identify four types of access model. The first 30%
can be characterised as mainly direct, typified by Finland where 27
almost two-thirds of respondents (64%) prefer to go first to a 15%
website or app. Elsewhere, preferred access is often social first,
with over four in ten (42%) preferring this route in Chile and 9 3
4 7
many other Latin American markets. In parts of Asia, publishers 0%
are deeply aggregated. In South Korea half (48%) say they prefer media alerts
news via a search portal like Naver or Daum, and 27% via a news
aggregator. Just 4% prefer to go directly to a news website or 4. PICK AND MIX
app, by far the lowest in our survey. Finally, we see examples 60%
USA
like the United States where many different routes to content Also Canada, Australia
are important – a pick and mix model. In all cases, younger
45%
groups are more likely to use social media and aggregators, with
older groups more likely to access directly – so these models
only go some way to explaining the complexity of access and 30%
distribution. When we look beyond main access routes most 27 25
consumers, of course, are using a combination of these methods 20
15%
on a regular basis.
7 7 9
There are many reasons for these differences, which may relate 0%
to market size, competition, culture, and regulation, but either media alerts
way it will clearly be harder for publishers who do not own the
primary relationship with consumers to extract as much value
Q10a. Which of these was the MAIN way in which you came across news in the last week?
from their content as those that do. Base: All that used a news gateway in the last week: Finland = 1809, Chile = 1901, South Korea = 1927,
USA = 1763.
14 / 15
To test this
REUTERS hypothesis
INSTITUTE weSTUDY
FOR THE have OF
plotted digital-only
JOURNALISM subscription
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS There are a few exceptions though, with the USA achieving higher
Slide 14
rates across countries with the proportion that access news
sites and apps directly in the next chart. Here we see a clear
online subscriptions despite lower direct traffic, partly because
Donald Trump’s election sparked a wave of subscriptions and
link between direct preferences and online news payment. donations to liberal publications such as the New York Times.8
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREFERENCE FOR DIRECT NEWS ACCESS AND DIGITAL NEWS SUBSCRIPTIONS – SELECTED MARKETS
14% NOR
Proportion that have a digital-only subscription
SWE
12%
10%
8%
USA
6%
DEN FIN Q10a. Which of these was
POL the MAIN way in which you
4% IRE UK came across news in the last
SPA AUT BEL GER week? Q7ai. Which, if any, of
FRA ROU the following ways have you
ITA SUI
BGR CZE NLD used to pay for ONLINE
2% SVK news content in the last
POR HUN GRE CRO year? Base: Total sample in
each market ≈ 2000.
0% REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 15
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Proportion that prefer direct access
It is important to note that other factors will be at play and we PROPORTION THAT USED A NEWSLETTER/MOBILE ALERT
find that the biggest drivers of direct traffic (and subscription) IN THE LAST WEEK (2014-19) – SELECTED COUNTRIES
are interest in news and education.
Email Newsletter
UK USA France Spain Finland
THE ROLE OF EMAIL AND MOBILE NOTIFICATIONS 25% 25%
IN DRIVING LOYALTY 21% 21%
20%
Generating more direct traffic to websites and apps is an 17%
important priority for publishers, with email newsletters a 15% 14% 14%
particularly favoured tactic for retaining subscribers but also
10% 10% 10%
for attracting new users. The Washington Post operates around 9% 9%
70 different newsletters and has found that recipients consume
5%
around three times as much content as those who don’t use
email news. Our own data this year show that 42% of US digital
0%
subscribers have used one or more email newsletters in the last 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
week compared with 35% in the UK but just 17% in Norway and
19% in Sweden. It is clear this is one area where Nordic publishers Mobile Notifications
could learn a few tricks from the United States. UK USA France Spain Finland
25%
Email remains extremely effective with older, highly engaged news
users, even if overall usage has not grown over the last five years. 20%
20% 19%
By contrast, mobile notifications tend to be used by younger groups 18%
and have shown considerable growth in weekly use – up from 3% 16%
15%
to 20% in the UK and 6% to 19% in the United States since 2014.
10%
Heavy news users are 2.5 times more likely to use mobile alerts 7%
than casual news users. Publishers are learning how to use alerts 6% 6%
5% 5% 5%
more strategically9 – and not just for breaking news. Different 3%
content is now selected for different day-parts and also at 0%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
weekends, while readers are being targeted individually with
relevant content driven by artificial intelligence algorithms. Q10. Thinking about how you got news online (via computer, mobile or any device) in the last
week, which were the ways in which you came across news stories? Base: All in 2014-19 that used
a news gateway in the last week in each country ≈ 1750.
8
https://www.recode.net/2018/8/9/17671000/new-york-times-trump-subscribers-news-slower-growth
9
Tow Center report on mobile alerts, Dec. 2018: https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/newsrooms-view-mobile-alerts-as-standalone-platform.php

Slide 18
FIRST CONTACT WITH THE NEWS; SHIFTING PROPORTION OF SMARTPHONE-FIRST USERS THAT USED
PREFERENCES OVER TIME EACH FOR FIRST CONTACT WITH NEWS – SELECTED MARKETS
This year we’ve taken a fresh look at the importance of gateways

43% News website or app
by bringing back a question about ‘first news use’ from 2016.
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS 35% Social media/messaging
Other/Don'tapps
know
In both the US and the UK we see fewer people starting each
Slide 17
day with radio, TV, or print, with more people using the internet –
11%
3%
Alerts/notifications
Email
Aggregator
mainly via smartphones. In the UK, the smartphone is now the
2% Aggregator Email
main first gateway to news (28%) overtaking TV (27%). In the UK almost
half go first to a 6% Other/Don’t know
Alerts/notifications
news app
PROPORTION THAT USED EACH FOR FIRST CONTACT WITH Social media/messaging apps
NEWS (2016 AND 2019) – UK AND USA
17% Facebook News website or app
UK
11% Twitter
40% 2016 2019 3% Instagram
30% 32
27 28
24 20% News website or app
20% 43% Social media/messaging apps
20
16 10% Alerts/notifications
10% 8% Email
8 9
7 7 11% Aggregator
In the USA
0% social is the first 7% Other/Don’t know
Print Radio TV Computer Smartphone
destination for
many
USA
25% Facebook
40% 2016 2019
11% Twitter
36
30% 33 2% Instagram
20% 23
18 17 46% News website or app
15
12 26% Social media/messaging apps
10% 11
7% Alerts/notifications
6 6
1% Email
0%
Print Radio TV Computer Smartphone 14% Aggregator
In Finland almost
half go first to a 5% Other/Don’t know
Q9c_new2016. What is the FIRST way you typically come across news in the morning? news app
Base: Total 2016/2019 in each country ≈ 2000.
17% Facebook
WHERE DO PEOPLE PICK UP FIRST NEWS ON
3% Twitter
A SMARTPHONE?
3% Instagram
Around four in ten (43%) in the UK say they go to a news website
or app first when using a smartphone, a relatively high figure
almost certainly driven by the popularity of the BBC News 19% News website or app
app. The situation is reversed for under 35s with almost half 52% Social media/messaging apps
starting their journey with social media (44%) and just a third 11% Alerts/notifications
going direct (34%). Overall, the proportion going direct is down 3% Email
5 points from 48% in 2016 due to more going via homescreen
11% Aggregator
links (11%) and aggregators. In Italy social
is the first 3% Other/Don’t know
destination
In the United States, only one in five (20%) goes straight to a
for most
news app, down from 23% in 2016. Amongst under-35s only 13%
33% Facebook
go direct, with over half (54%) preferring to go to social media.
Having said that, overall first contact via social media (43%) 8% WhatsApp/Facebook Messenger
has fallen six points while the use of aggregators (11%) and alerts/ 5% Instagram
notifications (10%) has grown. The mix of social networks has also
shifted since 2016 with less use of Facebook and more of Twitter
and Instagram. The pattern in Finland is similar to the UK, with Q9d_2016_rc5. You mentioned that your FIRST contact with news in the morning is using
internet via smartphone, in which ONE of the following places do you typically find your first
Italy more like the United States, except that much of the social news? Base: All that said their first contact with news is via a smartphone: UK = 516, USA = 460,
Finland = 539, Italy = 480.
first use is for messaging apps like WhatsApp (8%).
16 / 17
SMARTPHONES GROW FURTHER; RISE OF MOBILE MOBILE AGGREGATORS OFFER NEW

AGGREGATORS OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WITH STRINGS ATTACHED
Smartphone sales may be slowing down but the previous Against this background we are seeing a significant, if relatively
section shows
REUTERS howFOR
INSTITUTE ourTHE
dependence on them for
STUDY OF JOURNALISM news continues
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS modest, shift towards mobile news aggregators. Google News
Slide 21
to grow. Two-thirds of our combined sample (66%) now uses
the smartphone for news weekly, with usage doubling in most
relaunched last year with a new design and greater focus on
AI-driven recommendations, while mobile manufacturers running
countries over the last seven years. Slide 23
the Android operating system are integrating news aggregators
like Upday, News Republic, and Flipboard into the core operating
system, partly as a response to the success of Apple News.
PROPORTION THAT USED A SMARTPHONE FOR NEWS
IN THE LAST WEEK (2013-19) – SELECTED MARKETS
PROPORTION THAT USED EACH NEWS AGGREGATOR IN THE
75% 67% LAST WEEK (2017 AND 2019) – SELECTED REGIONS
Spain
63%
59%
57% Service France North EU Asia Latin South
56% America America Africa*
50% Germany
Google News 17% (+4) 17% (+7) 28% (+7) 41% (+20) 38%
UK
66% (+4)
25% USA
access news via Apple News 8% (+1) 5% (+1) 10% (-) 5% (-1) n/a
UK USA Germany smartphone across
all 38 markets
France Spain Upday 3% (+1) 4% (+2) 5% (-) 5% (+2) 10%
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Flipboard 4%(-1) 2% (-) 4% (-1) 3% (-) 7%
Q8B. Which, if any, of the following devices have you used to access news in the last week?
Base: Total sample 2013-19 sample in each country ≈ 2000. Q10c_2016. When using the internet for news, have you used any of the following sites or
mobile apps that aggregate different news links in the last week? Base: Total 2017/2019 sample in
each region: North America = 4269/4067, EU = 40,312/42,288, Asia = 11,142/11,247, Latin America =
8012/8038, *South Africa = 2009, no comparative figures for 2017. Note. EU sample in 2017 does not
include Bulgaria.
People are still using computers and tablets for news but when
we ask about preferred device the convenience and versatility
of the smartphone tends to win out. In the UK the smartphone It is hard to capture these trends accurately in a survey because
overtook the computer in 2017 and together with the tablet is respondents often see these as ‘news links on their phone’
now preferred by twice as many people. Tablet usage is stable, rather than a distinct destination, but our qualitative research is
Slide 22
with a small group of older and richer users (16%) continuing giving us a clearer picture of the role these services play in news
to prefer accessing news via larger screens. repertoires. Younger groups in particular love the convenience,
the lack of friction, and the way it brings multiple brands into one
place. We find some users actively curating and configuring the
MAIN DEVICE FOR NEWS (2013-19) – UK news that is most relevant to them but most are using them in
a more incidental or passive way.
Smartphone & Tablet Computer Smartphone Tablet
75% “It’s just the one that comes with my phone. You get
71%
64% a notification on this bar here. Sometimes you find
yourself on a website
Smartphone + Tablet that you wouldn’t normally
50% 49% like to go on.”
Tablet
Chloe, 31–35, UK in-depth interview
Smartphone
28% “I like using Apple News because it consolidates
Computer
25% 24%
16%
everything into one place and you don’t see five
15%
articles about the same thing.”
9%
0%
Maggie, 21–24, US in-depth interview
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
UK8b6_5. You’ve said you use the following devices to access news in the last week, which is your
Slide
For further 24
analysis see section 2.5: How Younger Generations
Consume News Differently
MAIN way of accessing online news? Base: All in 2013-19 that used a device for news in the last week:
UK ≈ 1750.
Quick Fix: Active Mode:

These trends matter for three reasons. First, it has become harder Swipe left for news Immersive, multiple options
to make display advertising work on smaller screens and this is
contributing to the financial difficulties for publishers. Second,
content formats designed for the print/desktop era are becoming
increasingly outdated on mobile displays, and third, personally
addressable devices enable targeted content and experiences –
putting a greater premium on those with access to more content
and more data (primarily platform companies).
20%

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2019 80%
0%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
60%
Google News reaches 15% of our US sample, which is a similar The chart below, which averages data from twelve countries we have
level of weekly usage to the Washington Post. Reach for Apple been tracking since 2014, shows the rapid growth for WhatsApp,
News overall is just 10% but among iPhone users specifically, the Facebook Messenger, and newer networks like Instagram and
40%
REUTERS INSTITUTE
news service now FOR
has THE STUDY
higher OF JOURNALISM
reach (27%) than/most
FURTHER ANALYSIS
US news REUTERS INSTITUTE
Snapchat, FOR incorporate
which also THE STUDY OFprivate
JOURNALISM / FURTHER
features ANALYSIS
like ephemeral
Slide 25
websites. In the UK, a quarter of Apple smartphone users (24%) Slide 27
messaging. By contrast reach for Facebook and Twitter has been flat.
access news this way, which puts the service a clear second As more people use messaging services, news usage has also risen,
behind BBC News amongst this group. 20% the relative importance of Facebook itself has declined.
while
PROPORTION THAT USED APPLE NEWS IN THE LAST WEEK, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING (2014-19) –
2016-19 – USA AND UK SELECTED MARKETS
0%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
USA (just Apple iPhone news users) USA (all users) WEEKLY USE FOR ANY PURPOSE
UK (just Apple iPhone news users) UK (all users)
75%
30% 64%
27% UK (all users)
60%
24% USA (all users)
45% 45%
20% UK (just Apple iPhone users)
37%
14% USA (just Apple iPhone users) 32%
30%
11% 21%
10%
15% 12%
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Q10c_2016. When using the internet for news, have you used any of the following sites or
WEEKLY USE FOR NEWS
mobile apps that aggregate different news links in the last week? Base: Total 2016-2019 sample/
iPhone users: USA ≈ 2000/500, UK ≈ 2000/500. 75%
Facebook algorithm
Wh
changes
60% Sna
It is important to distinguish between Upday, Google News, and Inst
Flipboard which pass traffic directly to publishers, and others 45%
like Apple News, and Yahoo! News which are trying to become 36% FB
destinations in their own right, republishing full stories in return 30%
16% Twi
for a share of advertising or subscription revenues. Mobile 10%
aggregators can bring reach and attention but with the latter 15% 9% Fac
8%
category many publishers will be wary about the loss of control, 3%
the weakening of brand attribution, and lower revenue – with 0%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
some platforms looking to take a cut of up to 50%.
Q12a/b. Which, if any, of the following have you used for any purpose/for news in the last week?
It should be noted that mobile aggregation is already majority Base: Total 2014-19 sample in each country: 18,859/23,557/24,814/24,487/24,735/24,146. Note: From
2015-19 the 12 countries included are UK, US, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Denmark, Finland,
behaviour in many Asian countries. Yahoo! News reaches two- Japan, Australia and Brazil. In 2014, we did not poll in Australia or Ireland.
thirds (66%) of smartphone users in Japan each week, Naver
reaches 73% of smartphone users in South Korea, while Line It should be noted that Facebook as a company remains in a strong
Today reaches 47% of our Taiwanese sample. Local mobile position. As owner of Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp its
aggregators are also a force in Italy (Giornali, 17%), Norway products reach 84% of our combined sample and 57% for news.
(Startsiden, 18%), and Sweden (Omni 12%).10 Slide 28
Messaging apps, which also include Viber, Telegram, and WeChat,
reach 75% for any purpose across our sample and 31% for news –
up 8 percentage points from two years ago.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE MOVE TO MESSAGING
PROPORTION THAT USE EACH MESSAGING APP FOR NEWS –
It has been a dramatic year for social media with Facebook and SELECTED MARKETS
YouTube under fire for spreading misinformation, encouraging
hate speech and online harm – as well as playing fast and loose
with our privacy.
Facebook’s response to these issues has already impacted news WhatsApp Messenger Viber
for news for news for news
publishers through a series of algorithm changes, but the next
step could be even more disruptive. In February, Mark Zuckerberg Brazil 53% (+5) Greece 25% (+3) Greece 17% (+3)
announced a shift of focus to more private messaging and has said Malaysia 50% (-4) Poland 22% (+9) Bulgaria 16% (+2)
that he expects WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to be the main South Africa 49% Belgium 12% (+4) Croatia 13% (+1)
way that users interact across the Facebook network. This means Hong Kong 41% (+3) USA 9% (+2)
that the sharing of news and comment in the future will be less open
Q12b. Which, if any, of the following have you used for news in the last week? Base: Total sample
and less transparent. in each market ≈ 2000.
Omni is owned by the publisher Schibsted.

10
18 / 19
This explosive
REUTERS growth
INSTITUTE of WhatsApp
FOR THE has so far been
STUDY OF JOURNALISM concentrated
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS our Brazilian (53%) and Malaysian (50%) samples use WhatsApp
Slide 29
in Latin America, South East Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe
as well as in India, which we covered in a recent Reuters Institute
for news, compared with 9% in the UK, 6% in Australia, and just
4% in both the United States and Canada.
stand-alone report focused on English speakers.11 Around half of
PROPORTION THAT USE WHATSAPP FOR NEWS – SELECTED MARKETS
50-60%
40-49%
30-39%
20-29%
10-19%
0-9%
Q12b. Which, if any, of the following have you used for news in the last week? Base: Total sample in each market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005. Note. India poll conducted in Jan 2019 with English-speaking, online
news users in India – a small (but important) subset of a larger, more diverse, and very complex Indian media market.
The data and chart above capture just those countries covered The spread of misinformation often happens via groups that
in this report and India, but other publicly available data confirm are set up specifically to discuss politics. These are common in
that WhatsApp use is more prevalent in the global south, WhatsApp, mainly in developing countries, but have also become
countries where reliable information is often in short supply a greater focus in Facebook itself, which recently prioritised
and public institutions are more fragile. these posts in the newsfeed. Facebook Groups have come under
scrutiny for their role in co-ordinating the recent Yellow Vest
The spread of unfounded rumours has led to a spate of killings (Gilets Jaunes) protests in France. But how many people use
in India while our country page reports from Brazil and South Facebook Groups and how do these differ from the way people
Africa illustrate how politicians have used the network to spread use groups in WhatsApp?
negative stories about opponents in a way that would be harder
in open networks. Fact-checking organisations have set up ‘tip This year, we explored these questions in detail across nine
lines’, appealing to the public to flag illegal or dangerous content. countries and found that although half of Facebook users (51%)
In Brazil, roughly a million WhatsApp groups were created to have joined some kind of public group, only a minority use them
promote candidates in the recent elections including far right for news and politics (14%). That figure rises to 22% in Brazil
former army captain Jair Bolsonaro, who was initially starved and 29% in Turkey. The majority of Facebook Groups are for
of coverage via TV. Facebook itself has belatedly invested in non-news subjects including gardening or sport (22%), their
collaborations with fact-checkers, digital literacy campaigns, local community (18%), and parenting (7%).
and has made it harder to share messages within WhatsApp.
By contrast we find that WhatsApp is primarily used for private
For more background see section 3: Analysis by Country, Brazil groups, most often with friends and family or workmates. News
and South Africa may come up in discussions but is not the primary purpose.
For further analysis see section 2.2: Groups and Private Networks –
Time Well Spent?
India Digital News Report, Mar. 2019: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/india-digital-news-report

11

Reuters
REUTERS Institute for theFOR
INSTITUTE Study of Journalism
THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM
/ Digital News Report 2019
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 30
PROPORTION OF FACEBOOK AND WHATSAPP USERS Younger groups in many countries seem to be swapping Snapchat
THAT USED EACH TYPE OF GROUP IN THE PAST MONTH – for Instagram, which has become, for many, the ‘go-to’ social
SELECTED MARKETS network. This year’s depth interviews confirm that young people
Facebook
60% are spending less time with Facebook, even if they are not
WhatsApp
abandoning it altogether.
51 14% use
46 public groups 47
40% about news/ 43 “I think I used to use Facebook a lot, and over past five,
six years, I basically hardly use it at all now, which is
Slide 32
politics
18% use
public groups 26 28 30 one massive change. In its place, Instagram has come.”
20% about local
community
Chloe, 31–35, UK in-depth interview
16
0% PROPORTION THAT USED INSTAGRAM AND SNAPCHAT

Public groups Private group Private group Private group
(with people set up with set up with set up with FOR NEWS – SELECTED MARKETS
I don't know) family friends workmates
Instagram Snapchat
Q12_2019_FB/WA. Facebook/WhatsApp allows you to set up, join, and participate in groups, for news for news
where you can discuss news or related topics with like-minded people. Which, if any, of the
following have you used in the past month on Facebook/WhatsApp itself? Base: Facebook/ Turkey 33%(+9) France 6% (-)
WhatsApp users: Nine countries = 12,975/9636. Note: This question was asked in USA, UK, Spain,
Ireland, Turkey, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. Brazil 26% (+10) Ireland 6% (-)
Spain 12% (+4) Australia 4% (-1)
USA 7% (+1) Canada 4% (-)
Behind the averages, we find a marked difference in the way
WhatsApp groups are used across countries. In Brazil, almost six in Q12B. Which, if any, of the following have you used for finding, reading, watching, sharing or
ten WhatsApp users (58%) take part in groups with people they don’t discussing news in the last week? Base: Total sample in each country ≈ 2000.
know, compared with just over one in ten (12%) in the UK. Almost
a fifth (18%) discuss news and politics in a public WhatsApp group We were able to get further insights into the behaviour of
in Brazil compared to just 2% in the UK, potentially increasing the younger groups in the US and UK (so called Gen Z and Gen Y)
chances of misinformation being spread. We find that people who by tracking the amount of time they spent on different mobile
used groups in WhatsApp and Facebook have lower trust in the apps and websites over a ten-day period.12 This reveals the
news and are more likely to use partisan news sites. overwhelming importance of social media and communications
to these INSTITUTE
REUTERS younger groups.
FOR THEIn these
STUDY OFtime charts (see
JOURNALISM below)ANALYSIS
/ FURTHER taken
PEOPLE SPENDING LESS TIME WITH FACEBOOK,
MORE WITH INSTAGRAM
Slide 33
from the mobile phone usage of two of our respondents, notice
the relatively little time spent within Facebook compared with
Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and even Twitter.
Further evidence of the changing shape of social media comes
in a new survey question we asked about how much time people
spend with each social network or messaging app. PROPORTION OF TIME SPENT WITH DIFFERENT MOBILE
APPS – TWO INDIVIDUAL RESPONDENTS OVER 10 DAYS
The picture in the UK is typical of many Western countries and
Male, Snapchat Instagram
shows that many people are spending less time with Facebook
31-35, UK 29.43% 21.72%
and more time with Instagram and WhatsApp. We have calculated
figures in the next chart by subtracting the proportion that say they
REUTERS
spent lessINSTITUTE FORthe
time from THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM
proportion / FURTHER
that say they ANALYSIS
spent more.
Slide 31almost half (46%) of under 35s in the UK said they
For example,
spent more time with Instagram in the last year but 14% said they Twitter Fitbit Kik Google
13.21% 9.91% 5.55% 2.09%
spent less. The net difference is +32%.
NET DIFFERENCE IN TIME SPENT WITH EACH SOCIAL Yahoo! Mail BBC
Safari News
NETWORK IN LAST YEAR – UK 7.97%
3.30% <1%
40 More Female, YouTube Safari Netflix
30 32 24-28, UK 27.45% 14.88% 8.14%
20
21 24 22
10 16
6 8 9 Facebook
0 4.41%
-10 -15 JobSpotter Google Maps Twitter
-19 11.32% 3.66% 2.86%
-20 -25
-31 IMDB
-30
3.66%
-40 Less All U35 Podcasts
10.30% dealornodeal BBC News
3.47% <1%
Q12C_2019. You say you use the following social networks for any purpose, in the last 12
months, has the amount of time you spend using them changed? Base: All/under 35s that used
each social network in the last week: Facebook = 1337/300, YouTube = 1002/282, WhatsApp =
1007/279, Instagram = 525/238, Snapchat = 209/142, Twitter = 536/163. Note: Showing difference
between proportion that said ‘more time’ and proportion who said ‘less time’.
With the permission of the participants, we added tracking code to the mobile phones of around 20 young people in the US and UK so online behaviour, time spent, and specific
12
news journeys could be measured.

20 / 21
It is striking that communication, social media, and web-browsing Specific events clearly have affected trust in a number of countries
apps dominated the time spent for all 20 young people tracked this year. Trust is down 11 points in Brazil after the recent fractious
as part of our study. This shows the importance of finding ways to election, but perhaps the biggest surprise is a 11-point fall in trust
bring at least some news to social platforms if younger groups are in France from 35% to 24%, driven by the partisan nature of the
to be engaged. In both illustrated cases, less than 1% of time was Yellow Vest protests. Some journalists were attacked – sometimes
spent with BBC News, the most popular news app. physically
REUTERS – for notFOR
INSTITUTE representing theJOURNALISM
THE STUDY OF protestors /and beingANALYSIS
FURTHER part of
For further analysis see section 2.5: How Younger Generations Slide 36
the establishment.13 But lower trust does not necessarily mean
lower usage. 24-hour news channel BFM achieved some of its
Consume News Differently highest ever ratings at the same time as showing a significant fall
in trust scores (5.9 to 4.9 on a ten-point scale).
TRUST AND ATTITUDES TO THE NEWS MEDIA

Overall trust in the news is down 2 percentage points (all market Read more about
average)INSTITUTE
REUTERS from 44% to THE
FOR 42%, withOF
STUDY trust in the news
JOURNALISM peopleANALYSIS
/ FURTHER use the Yellow Vests,
Slide 34
themselves falling below 50%. Trust in the news found in
distributed environments, like social media (23%) and search
brand usage, and
brand trust Section 3:
France Country
(33%), is even lower but is largely unchanged from last year.
Profile p. 84
PROPORTION THAT TRUST MOST NEWS FROM EACH MOST

OF THE TIME – ALL MARKETS
Trust news Trust news Trust news Trust news REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
overall I use in search in social
Slide 37
Journalists have been targeted and attacked in France over coverage
of the Yellow Vest protests (Picture, Reuters/Vincent Kessler)
42% 49% 33% 23%
(-2) (-2) (-1) (-)
AVERAGE BRAND TRUST SCORES – FRANCE
Rated on 0–10 scale, all those who have heard of brand

Mostly this is about trust in mainstream Uncertainty in distributed environments, 6.36
Le Monde
media and in the sources that people use information unchecked, hard to distinguish
news from rumour ... Le Figaro 5.96
Mediapart 5.94
Q6_2016_1/6/2/3. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: I L'Express 5.87
think you can trust most news/most news I consume/news in social media/news in search 5.87
engines most of the time. Base: All markets: 75,749.
Le Point
L'Obs 5.87
France Télévisions News 5.85 Down
Le Parisien 5.85
At a country level, we continue to find stark differences. The media 20 minutes 5.77
remain broadly trusted in Finland (59%), Portugal (58%), and Libération 5.75
Denmark (57%), while less than a third say they have confidence M6 News 5.75
TF1 News 5.64
in the news in Hungary (28%), Greece (27%), or Korea (22%).
Le HuffPost 5.57
In many of these countries the media are not considered to 5.24
Brut
be sufficiently independent from political or business elites. BFM TV 4.94 Least trusted
Slide 35 Q6_2018_trust. How trustworthy would you say news from the following brands is? Please use
the scale below, where 0 is ‘not at all trustworthy’ and 10 is ‘completely trustworthy’. Base: All
that have heard of each brand > 1000.
PROPORTION THAT TRUST MOST NEWS MOST OF THE TIME – ALL MARKETS
75%
-11
Fractious election
59 58 57
50% 53 52
50 49 49 48 48 48
-11
47 46 46 46 46 45 Yellow Vest protests
44 43 42
40 40 40 40 39 39 39 39
35 33 33
32 31
25% 28 28 27
24 22
0%
FIN POR DEN NLD CAN MEX BEL ZAF POL BRA IRE GER SUI HK TUR NOR CHL AUS SPA SGP UK BGR ITA CRO JPN ARG AUT SWE ROU CZE SVK USA MYS TWN HUN GRE FRA KOR
Q6_2016_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: I think you can trust most news most of the time. Base: Total sample in each market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-protests-press/french-media-denounce-violent-yellow-vest-attacks-on-press-idUKKCN1P70J5
13

Major upheavals like the Yellow Vests or Brexit in the UK have In the UK, we don’t see the same picture. Trust on both the
put a strain on perceived impartiality of the news media, which in left and the right has fallen, but if anything the trust gap has
turn can affect trust. But if we look over time across some of our REUTERS
narrowed INSTITUTE FORbecause
– perhaps THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM
both are equally/unhappy
FURTHER ANALYSIS
about
biggest countries, we see a generalised – and worrying – picture Slide 39
Brexit coverage, which crosses party lines. Whatever the
of decline. Even countries like Finland and Germany, which have reasons, there has been no total loss of confidence amongst
not seen dramatic polarising events, have seen falls of 9 and those on the right.
13 percentage points respectively in just five years. Across the
12 countries
REUTERS we have
INSTITUTE FORbeen tracking
THE STUDY since 2015,/trust
OF JOURNALISM scores
FURTHER are
ANALYSIS PROPORTION THAT TRUST MOST NEWS MOST OF THE TIME
Slide 38
down on average by 4 points though they have risen slightly in
Italy, Spain, Australia, and Ireland and have remained level in the
– USA AND UK
Netherlands and Denmark. USA: Left trust has increased in US

news media, right has collapsed
Left Right
PROPORTION THAT TRUST MOST NEWS MOST OF THE TIME
Trump elected
(2015 AND 2019) – SELECTED MARKETS 60% 53%
51% 49%
2015 2019 Change
40% 35% 34%
Finland 68% 59% -9
25% 23%
Germany 60% 47% -13 20% 17%
20%
9%
UK 51% 40% -11
USA 32% 32% – 0%

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
France 38% 24% -14
12 country average 47% 44% -4 UK: Right trust in the UK news

media still higher than left
Q6_2016_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: I think you
can trust most news most of the time. Base: Total 2015/2019 sample in each country ≈ 2000, Left Right
Finland 2015 = 1509. Note: 12 country average includes UK, USA, France, Germany, Denmark, Finland,
58% Brexit vote
Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Australia and Ireland. 60% 57%
50%
42% 41%
40% 46%
It is also notable in the table above that trust levels in the United 39% 39% 38%
37%
States (32%) have remained flat overall, but this hides a much
20%
richer and more dramatic story.
Digging into the detail, we find an increase in trust (+18pp) 0%

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
amongst those who self-identify on the left of the political
spectrum as they lent their support to liberal media outlets in Q6_2016_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: I think you
the wake of Donald Trump’s victory. Over the same period, we can trust most news most of the time. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to
describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the
have seen the almost total collapse of trust on the right to just 9%. following scale? Base: 2015-18 Left/Right: USA ≈ 500/500, UK ≈ 500/300.
MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION

More than half (55%) of our sample across 38 countries The biggest jump in concern (+12pp) came in the UK (70%)
remains concerned about their ability to separate what is real where the news media have taken a lead in breaking stories
and fake on the internet. Concern is highest in Brazil (85%), about misinformation on Facebook and YouTube and there has
Slide 40
South Africa (70%), Mexico (68%), and France (67%), and been a high-profile House of Commons inquiry into the issue.
lowest in the Netherlands (31%), and Germany (38%), which
tend to be less polarised politically.
PROPORTION CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS FAKE ON THE INTERNET WHEN IT COMES TO NEWS – ALL MARKETS
100%
+4
+12 +5 +5
85
75% +4
75 -4
70 70 68 68 67 67 67
64 63 62 62 62 62 61 61 61 59
50% 54 54 52 52 52 51 49
47 45 44 44
43 41 40
39 39 38 37
25% 31
0%
BRA POR ZAF UK MEX SPA CHL USA FRA MYS TUR ARG ROU SGP AUS CAN GRE IRE KOR TWN CRO BGR ITA FIN JPN HUN SWE HK BEL SUI POL CZE AUT NOR DEN GER SVK NLD
Q_FAKE_NEWS_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement. – Thinking about online news, I am concerned about what is real and what is fake on the internet. Base: Total
sample in each market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005.
say they are relying on ‘more say they’ve stopped using sources
reputable’ news sources. with ‘less accurate’ reputation
(40% in USA) (34% in USA)
22 / 23
29% 41%
say they decided NOT to Say they checked accuracy by
IMPACT OF MEDIA
share a ‘dubious’ LITERACY?comparing multiple sources
news article We picked up similar sentiments in our qualitative research with
(35% in USA) (47% in USA) younger groups in the UK and the US. Many of our respondents
One consequence of this concern seems to be a greater said that they were now paying more attention to the name
awareness
Q_LIT_2019. and
Have youaffinity with
done of any of thetrusted news
following in brands.
the last year? Base:One positive
Total sample = 75,749. of the brand when using social media. Others said they were
finding of our report this year is that over a quarter (26%) have calling out friends more often for sharing inaccurate news.
started relying on ‘more reputable’ sources of news – rising to
36% in Brazil and 40% in the US. A further quarter (24%) said “If I see something like New York Times, Bloomberg,
they’d stopped using sources that had a ‘less accurate reputation’, Washington Post, I’m going to assume that it’s
with almost a third (29%) deciding not to share a potentially credible and valid but if I see something that’s on a
inaccurate news article. The interpretation of ‘reputable’, ‘less news website that I’ve never heard of before, I’m more
accurate’, ‘dubious’, and other subjective terms were left to likely to question the source of the news.”
respondents to determine. Maggie, 21–24, US in-depth interview
“I think I’m much more limited in the news that I access

PROPORTION THAT SAY THEY HAVE CHANGED ONLINE now, because of this … I think the ones that you trust
HABITS IN THE LAST YEAR – ALL MARKETS
are the traditional ones that have been around for
a long time, like the BBC, like the Guardian, like
26% 24% the Independent”
Chloe, 31-35, UK in-depth interview
say they are relying on ‘more say they’ve stopped using sources
reputable’ news sources. with ‘less accurate’ reputation All this suggests that higher media awareness and digital literacy
campaigns may be having some effect, though it should be noted
that change has been more evident with the better educated
29% 41% who arguably may be less likely to be duped anyway. In the
United Kingdom it is mainly younger groups that have modified
say they decided NOT to Say they checked accuracy by Slide 43
their behaviour, while in the United States the biggest change
share a ‘dubious’ news article comparing multiple sources has come with older demographics.
Q_LIT_2019. Have you done of any of the following in the last year? Base: Total sample = 75,749.
PROPORTION THAT SAY THEY HAVE STARTED USING MORE
REPUTABLE NEWS SOURCES BY AGE AND EDUCATION –
Behaviour seems to have changed most in countries where UK AND USA
concern about misinformation is highest. Almost two-thirds
BY AGE 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
(61%) in Brazil said they had decided not to share a potentially
inaccurate story in social media and 40% in Taiwan after recent 50%
electionsINSTITUTE
REUTERS markedFOR
by misinformation – compared
THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM with just
/ FURTHER 13%
ANALYSIS
45
Slide 42
in the Netherlands, the country with the lowest level of concern
in our survey. The shift to more reputable sources is a bit more
39
37
41
36 35
evenly split.
28 29
25% 27 26
PROPORTION THAT SAY THEY HAVE CHANGED ONLINE
HABITS IN THE LAST YEAR – SELECTED MARKETS
75% Netherlands
Brazil
Germany 0%
UK USA
UK
France 61 Taiwan
USA BY EDUCATION Low Med High
50% Taiwan 50% USA
Brazil 47
40 40 France
36
34 35 35 36
29 30
UK
25% 26 26 25%
24
20 20
17 Germany 18
15
13
Netherlands
0% 0%
Started using more Decided not to share an UK USA
reputable sources 'unreliable' story in social media
Q_LIT_2019. Have you …started relying more on sources of news that are considered more
Q_LIT_2019. Have you done of any of the following in the last year? Base: Total sample in each reputable in the last year? Base: 18-24/25-34/35-44/45-54/55+ and low/medium/high education:
market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005. UK = 135/278/304/323/983 and 558/626/839, USA = 177/380/320/246/889 and 85/1013/914.

Slide 44
ALTERNATIVE AND PARTISAN NEWS WEBSITES PROPORTION THAT HAVE HEARD OF/USED EACH IN THE
LAST WEEK – USA, UK, AND FRANCE
We have seen a continuing rise of populism in many countries
and a further fall in trust in established media over the last USA
year. At the same time, we find greater consumer literacy 22% use one compared to 20% in 2018
and changes to Facebook algorithms designed to damp down 44
extreme and polarising views. But what has been the outcome Breitbart 7
of these conflicting trends on the reach of alternative and 27
Daily Caller 6
partisan news sites?
31
The Blaze 6
These sites are said to have played a part in bringing Donald
Trump to power in the United States, reshaping decades of 25
Occupy Democrats 5
centrist politics in Sweden, and mobilising support for Jeremy
33
Corbyn in the UK. Partisan sites should be distinguished from Infowars 3
those that ‘deliberately fabricate the news’, even if they are often 9
accused of exaggerating or tailoring the facts to fit their cause. Being Liberal 2
12
Examples are Breitbart and InfoWars in the United States Talking Points Memo 2
(right-wing), Fria Tider in Sweden (right-wing), and the Canary 12 Awareness

The Intercept 2
and Evolve Politics in the UK (left-wing). Though ideology is a Usage
key motivator, some sites are also looking to make money, or at 6
Addicting Info 1
least break even, from these activities. The narrowness of their
0% 25% 50%
focus also separates them from established news sites like Fox
News and Mail Online, which also have a reputation for partisan
political coverage, but tend to cover the full range of news
(world news, sport, entertainment).
UK
Working with local partners, we have identified a number of sites
that matched our criteria and this year we have added sites 14
The Canary 2
in France and Brazil to our list.
16
Breitbart 2
The data below suggest that there has been little change in
weekly usage of these sites in countries like the US, Sweden, and 6
Sputnik 1
Norway where these sites are used by a significant proportion of
7
the population. Even if social media algorithms are promoting Westmonster 2
these sites less, users and supporters are still finding ways to 6
access them. Skwawkbox 1
3 Awareness
In all three countries we also see a large gap between awareness Novara Media 1
Usage
of these sites and actual usage, which suggests that their impact 4
Evolve Politics 1
on the wider discussion is not just confined to users. As last year,
we also note a wide variation in usage. Almost a quarter (22%) 0% 25% 50%
of our Swedish sample accesses one or more of seven partisan
and alternative websites, and over half are aware of them – while
these types of sites hardly feature at all in the Netherlands or
Belgium. Even at a time of high tension in the UK over Brexit, FRANCE
only 7% use one or more of these sites weekly compared with
almost a quarter in the United States (22%). 10
Sputnik France 3
Alternative and partisan sites elsewhere have a more diverse set 10
Russia Today
of motivations. In France these include Russian state broadcaster 3
RT which gave exhaustive and often uncritical coverage of the 9
Le Média 2
Yellow Vest protesters. RT France in particular was accused of
7
spreading lies, specifically that the police had been siding with Fdesouche 1
protestors. Our data suggest high awareness of both RT and
4
Sputnik (10%) but relatively low usage (3% for each). Reporterre 1
4 Awareness
Fakir 1
Usage
3
L’incorrect 1
0% 25% 50%
Q5c_2018_1/2. In recent years a number of online news sites have emerged with their content
often distributed via social media. Which, if any, of the following have you heard of/used in the
last week? Base: Total sample: USA = 2012, UK = 2023, France = 2005.
24 / 25
Slide 45
PROPORTION THAT HAVE HEARD OF/USED EACH IN THE POPULISM AND THE MEDIA
LAST WEEK – SWEDEN, BRAZIL, AND NORWAY
The growth of populism, for example in the UK and France, is
SWEDEN putting enormous strains on left/right political party systems.
22% use one compared to 20% in 2018 But it is also raising new questions for journalists over how far to
38 represent populist views, and how to satisfy a readership that no
Fria Tider 10 longer splits easily along traditional lines.
28
Nyheter Idag 11 This year we have attempted to add a populist dimension to our
24 study of media consumption by measuring responses to two
Samhällsnytt 9 questions; first, how distant respondents feel from their elected
31 representatives and, second, how respondents feel about the
Nya Tider 6
people taking more important decisions directly. Putting these
18
Ledarsidorna 7 responses together we can create a group of people in each country
10 Awareness with broadly populist attitudes and one with less populist attitudes.
Det goda samhället 4 Usage
25 One surprising finding is that populists prefer to use television
Samtiden 6 news compared with non-populists and are less likely to prefer
0% 25% 50% online news.
REUTERS These
INSTITUTE data
FOR THEwill support
STUDY those who
OF JOURNALISM argue that
/ FURTHER the
ANALYSIS
Slide 47
role of social media has been overplayed when explaining the rise
of Donald Trump compared with the part played by supportive
television networks like Fox News.
MAIN SOURCE OF NEWS BY POPULIST ATTITUDES – USA
BRAZIL Populist Non-Populist
50% 52
37 45 45
O Antagonista 19
22 36
Rede Brasil Atual 12
19
Brasil 247 25%
10
Diário do Centro 17
18 18
do Mundo 8
11 Awareness
Crítica Nacional 5 7 7
Usage
4 6
15 0%
Rádio Vox 5 TV Social media Radio Print Online
(inc. social)
0% 25% 50%
Q4. You say you’ve used these sources of news in the last week, which would you say is your
MAIN source of news? Base: All with populist/non-populist attitudes that used a source of news
in the last week: USA = 1012/823. Note. See section 2.3 for how we identified populist attitudes.
Populists in the United States are no less or more likely to use

NORWAY
social media as a main source when compared with non-populists.
However, they are more likely to share and distribute news in
24
Resett social media and take part in groups about news and politics.
7
They tend to prefer Facebook, whereas non-populists gravitate
Human Rights Service 24
/HRS 4 towards Twitter.
22
Document.no 6 We also find that in most countries (eg United States, Spain)
17 left–right perspectives still have a bigger impact on media choices
Minerva 2
than populist attitudes. But it is a different story in Germany and
13 Sweden. Later in this report we explore this subject in more detail
Breitbart 1
and map media usage against both dimensions.
7 Awareness
Radikalportal 2
Usage
4
Fria Tider 1
For further analysis see section 2.3:
0% 25% 50%
The Rise of Populism and the Consequences
Q5c_2018_1/2. In recent years a number of online news sites have emerged with their content for News and Media Use
often distributed via social media. Which, if any, of the following have you heard of/used in the
last week? Base: Total sample: Sweden = 2007, Brazil = 2013, Norway = 2013.
NEWS AVOIDANCE AND NEWS OVERLOAD BREXIT BLUES

In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, polarisation, In the UK, news avoidance has grown 11 percentage points mainly
misinformation, and low trust may not be the only issues facing due to frustration over the intractable and polarising nature of
the news industry. In our data this year we find that almost a Brexit. Here, over half (58%) of respondents said the news had a
third (32%) say they actively avoid the news – 3 points more than negative impact on their mood, while four in ten (40%) said there
when we last asked this question in 2017. This may be because the was nothing they felt they could do to influence events. When
world has become a more depressing place or because the media asked about
REUTERS the type
INSTITUTE FORof
THEnews avoided,
STUDY more than
OF JOURNALISM two-thirds
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
coverage tends to be relentlessly negative – or a mix of the two.
Slide 49
(71%) cited Brexit coverage, followed by other types of politics
(35%), and then sports news (28%). The majority of open-ended
Slide 48
News avoidance is highest in Croatia (56%), Turkey (55%), and
Greece (54%). It is lowest in Japan (11%) where reading the news
responses also mentioned frustration or sadness over Brexit.
is often seen as a duty.

REASONS FOR AVOIDING THE NEWS – UK
PROPORTION THAT OFTEN OR SOMETIMES ACTIVELY Negative impact on my mood 58

AVOIDS THE NEWS – ALL MARKETS
I don't feel there is anything I can do 40
CRO 56
TUR 55 Can't rely on it to be true 34
GRE 54
46 Disturbs concentration 11
BGR
ARG 45
Takes too much time 11
CHL 42
POL 41 Leads to arguments 11
USA 41
40 Graphic images upset me 11
ROU
MEX 37 0% 25% 50% 75%
ZAF 37
ITA 36
UK 35 +11%
35
71%
HUN
BRA 34
33 of avoiders are trying
FRA
to avoid Brexit news
SPA 33
IRE 32
POR 31 Q1dii_2017. Which, if any, of
the following are reasons why
AUT 30 you actively try to avoid news?
Base: All who actively avoid the
SVK 30 news: UK = 1263. Note: Data from
MYS 29 separate follow-up fieldwork
conducted 11-12 February 2019.
NLD 29
AUS 29
CAN 29 Those who voted to remain in the EU, including the young and
BEL 27 those in London, who avoided the news were more likely to say
SUI 26 that news has a negative impact on their mood.
CZE 25
25 “Although I do watch the political news avidly, I made
GER
+3 a new resolution to stop as it has a negative effect on
KOR 24
22
my mood as I feel powerless to change anything.”
SGP
Female 55+, UK
SWE
TWN
22
21
32%
Avoid the news Leave voters were more likely to avoid the news because they
NOR 21 often or sometimes can’t rely on the news to be true. In many cases this is because
HK 20 (29% in 2017) they believe that the news is biased or partial in some way.
FIN 17
DEN 15 “Brexit has been rammed down our throats for a couple
JPN 11 of years plus most of them are biased towards us
staying in the EU.”
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Male 55+, UK
Q1di_2017. Do you find yourself actively trying to avoid news these days? Base: Total sample in
each country ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005.
26 /
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS27
Slide 50 Slide 52
REASONS FOR AVOIDING NEWS AMONGST REMAIN PROPORTION THAT AGREED WITH EACH ATTITUDE
AND LEAVE VOTERS – UK TOWARDS THE NEWS – ALL MARKETS
75% Remain voters Leave voters The news media keeps me up to date
with what’s going on
65
50%
62%
47 The news media helps me understand
43 41 the news of the day
38
25% 30 51%
The news media monitors and scrutinises
powerful people and businesses
0%
News has negative
impact on my mood
I don't feel there is
anything I can do about it
Can't rely on the
news to be true
42%
Q15_2019_1/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: the
Q1dii_2017. Which, if any, of the following are reasons why you actively try to avoid news? news media monitors and scrutinises powerful people and businesses/the news media keeps
Base: Remain/Leave voters who actively avoid the news: UK = 999/829. Note: Data from separate me up to date with what’s going on/the news media helps me understand the news of the day.
follow-up fieldwork conducted 11-12 February 2019. Base: Total sample = 75,749.
There are interesting country differences in terms of these

NEWS OVERLOAD attributes. News organisations in rich, Northern European
Others still (28%) agree that there is too much news these days, countries
REUTERS like Finland
INSTITUTE (51%)
FOR THE and
STUDY OFNorway (51%)
JOURNALISM tend toANALYSIS
/ FURTHER have the
which partly reflects the way in which constant news updates Slide 53
best reputation for holding the rich and powerful to account.
By contrast, media in nations such as Hungary (20%) and Japan
and different perspectives can make it hard to know what is really
going on. A common complaint is that users are bombarded with (17%) are seen to be doing a poor job in this regard.
multiple versions of the same story or of the same alert. ‘[There
is] too much conflicting and confusing news’, said one respondent PROPORTION THAT AGREED THE NEWS MEDIA MONITORS
to our UK
REUTERS survey. Perception
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDYof overload is highest
OF JOURNALISM in theANALYSIS
/ FURTHER United AND SCRUTINISES POWERFUL PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES –
Slide 51
States (40%), where even the president adds to the noise with
regular tweets. It is lower in countries with a smaller number of
SELECTED MARKETS
publishers like Denmark (20%) and the Czech Republic (16%).
28% BEST REPUTATION WORST REPUTATION

WORN OUT
by the amount of news these days Finland 51% Japan 17%
Norway 51% Hungary 20%
EVALUATIONS OF THE NEWS MEDIA Portugal 51% Korea 21%

Canada 49% Taiwan 30%
In this age of greater turbulence, complexity, abundance, and Also USA 45%
competition, how is the news media doing in meeting expectations
of its role in society? Q15_2019_1/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: the
news media monitors and scrutinises powerful people and businesses. Base: Total sample in
each market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005.
This year we asked respondents to evaluate the performance in
five areas: whether they think the news media focuses on the
right topics, helps them properly understand current events,
Even in countries with the highest reputation we find a significant
keeps them up to date, uses the right positive/negative tone, and
gap between journalists’ own perceptions about how well they
does a good job of monitoring and scrutinising the powerful.
are doing their job and the views of news consumers. Further
Across all countries, most people agree that the news media international comparisons are explored later in this report.
keeps them up to date with what’s happening (62%), but only
For further analysis see section 2.4: What do People Think about
half (51%) say news media help them understand the news. Just
the News Media?
four in ten (42%) think that the news media does a good job in its
watchdog role – scrutinising powerful people and holding them
to account. These qualities of explanation and scrutiny are at
the very core of the mission of journalism in many countries, and
these scores speak directly to declining trust in the news.

Looking at the two other dimensions in our survey, we find These themes around the negativity of the news media also came
surprisingly little criticism of the media’s agenda-setting role, with out strongly in our in-depth interviews with young people this year in
only a minority (25%) feeling that the topics selected are not the US and UK. In the US, the idea of negativity was often associated
relevant to their lives. There seems to be more of a problem with with perceptions that a negative or unfair agenda was being
the tone taken by the news media to those stories. Four in ten pursued by a publication (against Donald Trump or Serena Williams
(39%) think that the news media take too negative a view of events. for example). In the UK, many of our interviewees felt that some
This is a complex statistic to interpret, not least because a difficult (popular) media outlets simply had an unconstructive mindset:
or ‘negative’ press is often the flip side of robust scrutiny. It may be
no coincidence, for example, that a country like Singapore has the “The Daily Mail. They are always on social media,
least negative media (22%) but also scores poorly in term of robust trying to make someone look bad.”
scrutiny (32%). But elsewhere it is interesting to note that many Ellie, 18–20, UK
countries that have the best reputation for holding the powerful
to account (Finland, Netherlands) “News is a major negative and has a huge impact on
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OFare also seen/as
JOURNALISM least negative
FURTHER ANALYSIS
everyone who watches it. There is never any positive
Slide 54
(23%). Equally, many countries where the news media have a
poor watchdog record are seen as having the most negative press or happy news.”
(Greece 59%, Bulgaria 52%). Female, 24–35, UK
PROPORTION THAT THINK THE MEDIA IS OFTEN TOO BROKEN NEWS?

NEGATIVE – ALL MARKETS
Along with the earlier evidence that some people are avoiding the
GRE 59
news or are worn out by the amount of news, these kinds of data
CHL 52
have fuelled new initiatives around ‘slow news’ (De Correspondent,
BGR 52
51 Zetland, Republik, Tortoise Media,) and constructive or solutions-
CRO
50 based journalism (HuffPo, BBC World Hacks). The founders of these
ROU
49 initiatives
REUTERS argue
INSTITUTE FOR that traditional
THE STUDY news models
OF JOURNALISM andANALYSIS
/ FURTHER approaches are
ARG
POR 49 Slide 55
broken and they are looking to respond with more meaningful,
inclusive, and less relentlessly negative coverage – often developed
MEX 48
ZAF 47 in closer collaboration with audiences.
BRA 47
UK 47
AUS 44
USA 43
POL 43
SVK 43
KOR 42
AUT 42
FRA 42
SUI 41
TWN 39
ITA 39
TUR 39
HUN 38
NOR 36
CAN 36
SPA 36
IRE 36
CZE 34
GER 32
MYS 32
At the same time, other media companies are looking to
BEL 31
respond to the gap identified here between updatedness and
DEN 29
understanding. Vox Media has built a formidable reputation
JPN 29
SWE 27 39% for explanatory journalism, an approach that works particularly
well with younger people looking to understand complex
HK 25 say media often
23 take too negative a issues. Many traditional media companies have adopted
NLD
23 view of events similar approaches (BBC Reality Check).
FIN
SGP 22
Others are looking to attract young people through a less
traditional agenda, often using new formats and voices
Q15_2019_3. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The news media
often takes too negative view of events. Base: Total sample in each market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005. (BuzzFeed, Vice).
28 / 29
UK 5
PIVOT TO AUDIO PICKS UP PACE In terms of location, younger people are more likely to access
12
podcasts when out and about, while
USA older groups 4often listen in
Podcasts have been around for many years but these episodic digital bed when having difficulty sleeping, as well as when walking the 11
audio files appear to be reaching critical mass as a consequence of
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS dog or doing the chores at home. CAN 4
better content and easier distribution. Over a third of our combined
Slide 56
sample (36%) now say they have consumed a podcast in the last But the age of innocence could beAUT over as money3 starts to trickle
10
month, with almost one in six (15%) saying they have consumed into podcasts. Advertising is becoming more intrusive; Spotify 9
KOR 2
one about news, politics, or international news. and other platforms have started to pay for exclusive premium
8
content (blockbusters), and publishers
AUS like Politiken
3 have started
PROPORTION THAT USED A PODCAST LAST MONTH – to restrict two or three of their daily briefings to subscribers7only.
SELECTED MARKETS This new money has brought more GER 2 content and higher
professional
7
production values, but some fear that the purity and authenticity of
KOR 53 IRE 3
the podcast experience could be lost in the process.
SPA 39 5
37 SPA 2
IRE For further analysis see section 2.6: Podcasts: Who, Why, What,
35 +2 4
USA and Where? FRA 2
SWE 35
4
POR 34 SGP 1
AUT 32 +5 USAGE OF VOICE-ACTIVATED SPEAKERS
3 DOUBLES
31 NLD 1
NOR AGAIN, BUT NEWS USAGE REMAINS DISAPPOINTING
ITA 30 3
SWE
SUI 30 Audio prospects may be further boosted1by the rapid adoption of
3
CAN 29 voice-activated speakers such asNOR the Amazon
1 Echo and Google
AUS 27 Home. Reach for any purpose has grown from 7% to 14% in the
FIN 26 +2 UK over the last year, from 9% to 12% in the United States, and
FRA 25 from 5% to 9% in high-tech Korea. However, the proportion using
DEN 24 36% smart speakers
REUTERS forFOR
INSTITUTE news isSTUDY
THE declining as mainstream
OF JOURNALISM audiences
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
BEL
JPN
23 +3
23
accessed a podcast
in the last month Slide 58
come on stream. Less than four in ten access any news via their
device in an average week in the US (35%) and UK (39%) and just
21 (34% in 2018) a quarter in Germany (27%) and South Korea (25%).
GER
NLD 21 +3
UK 21 +3
0% 25% 50%
PROPORTION THAT USED A SMART SPEAKER FOR
ANY PURPOSE/FOR NEWS IN THE LAST WEEK –
Q11F_2018. A podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files, which you can download, subscribe,
SELECTED MARKETS
or listen to. Which of the following types of podcast have you listened to in the last month? Base:
Total sample in each country ≈ 2000. 14 Any purpose
UK 5 For news
12
The Guardian, Washington Post, Politiken, AftenPosten, The Economist, USA 4
and the Financial Times are amongst dozens of publishers to have 11
CAN 4
launched daily podcasts in the last year. This follows the runaway
success of the Daily from the New York Times, which has around 5m 10
AUT 3
daily listeners, is rebroadcast on public radio, and is about to get 9
a video spin-off series. Meanwhile the BBC has rebranded its on- KOR 2
demand radio app as BBC Sounds to reflect the shift to on-demand 8
AUS 3
consumption and the growing interest of the podcast generation.
7 USA 14%
GER 2 UK 12%
In the UK, younger age groups, who spend much of their lives
7
plugged into smartphones, are four times more likely to listen IRE 3
to podcasts than over 55s – and much less likely to listen to 5
traditional speech radio. Under 35s consume half of all podcasts SPA 2 4%
despite making up around a third of the total adult population. 4 2%
FRA 2 2017 2018 2019
The core appeal of podcasts is the ease of use, and the ability to listen 4
SGP 1
while doing something else. But for younger users podcasts also
3
provide more authentic voices and the control and choice they’ve NLD 1
become used to. 3
SWE 1
“With radio you can’t control what shows are on, 3
whereas podcasts you can.” NOR 1
Mark, 31–35, US
Q8A/B. Which, if any, of the following devices do you ever use for any purpose/for news in the
“You’re not actively searching something or reading last week. Base: Total sample in each country ≈ 2000.
a screen. You’re letting it wash over you.”

Chloe, 31–35, UK

Over the last year, both Google and Amazon have launched in VIDEO NEWS CHANGING SHAPE
a range of new markets including India, Spain, Mexico, and a
number of Nordic countries. Video is a case of platform power writ large. Most video news
consumption takes place on Facebook (32%) and YouTube (26%),
Amazon still has a dominant position in the US, UK, and Germany where the context and monetisation rules are set by the tech
but Google leads in a number of markets where it launched first, companies. Over the last year Facebook has become a little
including Australia and Canada. Devices with screens like the
Slide 60
less important for news video, with other platforms like Twitter,
Slide 59
Amazon Show and Spot have so far made little impact, with our
research suggesting that the last thing most consumers want is
Instagram, and Snapchat becoming a little more important (+3).
more screens in their lives.

OFFSITE VS ONSITE NEWS VIDEO CONSUMPTION –
ALL MARKETS
PROPORTION OF SMART SPEAKER OWNERS THAT USE EACH
75%
DEVICE – USA AND AUSTRALIA
Net share
Amazon: 75% | Google: 27% | With Screen: 15% 50%
52
Facebook 32%
Amazon Echo, Dot Google Home, Mini
69% 23% 25%

35
32
YouTube 26%
Others 17%
Due to overlaps, figures
do not add up to 52
0%
Consumed no Consumed Consumed
news-related news-related news-related
videos in the video onsite video offsite
last week
Q11_VIDEO_2018a. Thinking about consuming online news video (of any kind) over the last
week, which of the following did you do? Base: Total sample = 75,749, UK = 2023, Hong Kong =
2056, Turkey = 2074.
Amazon Show, Spot
Google Home Hub 5%
11%
Apple HomePod 3% Short form video (straight news clips or crafted with music and
subtitles) remains the most popular format for news but this has
Net share become increasingly hard for publishers to monetise. Facebook
Amazon: 15% | Google: 86% | With Screen: 13% has switched its focus towards longer, scripted current affairs
shows for Facebook Watch. Netflix and HBO have now joined the
Amazon Echo, Dot Google Home, Mini REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
competition for this longer form content with significant amounts
13% 78% Slide 61
of money changing hands. Explained from the US publisher Vox
is one long-form news series that has been recommissioned by
Netflix for a second series.
Amazon Show, Spot 4% Google Home Hub (Screen)
Apple HomePod 5% 12%

Q8C_2019. You say you have a smart speaker, which of the following models do you ever use?
Base: USA = 273, Australia = 161.
It is worth pointing out that more than a third (35%) of our

The issue of platform power is likely to become an increasingly combined sample does not consume any online news video in an
important issue for publishers over the next year as Google and average week, a figure that rises to 54% in the UK and Germany.
Amazon look to provide more aggregated news services in voice. Platforms like YouTube have become an important centre of
But many are wary about helping to build value for platforms – opposition media in Turkey, with 83% of our urban sample saying
again – without any path to monetisation. they have consumed news via offsite platforms. The vast majority
(68%), across all countries, still say they prefer to consume news
in text, though a significant minority of under 35s (13%) say they
prefer to consume news in video.
30 / 31
CONCLUSION A number of media companies are unlikely to make this difficult

transition. Many news publishers are stuck in a vicious cycle
This year’s report sees the news industry at yet another crossroads. of declining revenue and regular cost cutting, as illustrated
Publishers are pushing hard to distinguish high-quality journalism within our country page section this year. We also find some
from the mass of information that is now published on the internet – governments – increasingly alarmed by market failure, especially
and more and more of them are looking to charge for that difference. in local news and investigative journalism – considering using
Some traditional brands may be helped by concerns about public money and other measures to support pubic interest
misinformation, which mean that people are once again paying journalism. Elsewhere, we find authoritarian-minded politicians
more attention to ‘reputable’ brands – even as others continue looking at the weakness of commercial media as an opportunity
to complain about media bias and negativity. There is no sign to capture or unduly influence the media. These trends continue
that the majority of people are about to pay for online news, to play out at different paces in different places with no single
although many recognise that information on the internet path to success. Media users all over the world continue to flock
is often overwhelming and confusing. Younger audiences in to digital websites and platforms, and engage with many kinds
particular don’t want to give up instant, frictionless (and ideally of journalism online and offline. But we are still some way from
free) access to range of diverse voices and opinions. They don’t finding sustainable digital business models for most publishers.
want to go back to how the media used to be.
Some of the biggest brands have already shown they are able to
attract a large number of paying subscribers, but the road ahead
will be more challenging for other publishers. Loyalty and the
ability to forge direct connections will be critical, as our data
clearly indicate, but this will be hard to achieve just through the
desktop or mobile web where news access tends to be fleeting
and distracted. That’s why publishers are showing such interest
in podcasts, longer form video, and even live events – more
immersive formats that allow a brand personality to be expressed
more fully while maintaining the choice and control demanded
by a younger generation.
Wider changes are also in the air as subscription-based bundled

businesses like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon (and now Apple) edge
into the news market. Even Facebook has floated the idea of
a dedicated news tab where content might be paid.14 But the
relationship with these subscription players is unlikely to be any
easier than with existing ad-focused models we’ve been used
to. Platforms will want to take a substantial cut in revenue in
return for distribution and will ultimately own the relationship
with the customer. Established forms of distributed discovery
like search and social media continue to be important, but newer
platform products and services such as private messaging, mobile
aggregators, and voice systems are starting to make an impact too.
It is a crucial question whether publishers can in fact use these new
platform services in ways that are mutually beneficial and deliver
sustainable returns for publishers.
Despite the greater opportunities for paid content, it is likely that

most commercial news provision will remain free at the point of
use, dependent on low margin advertising, a market where big
tech platforms hold most of the cards. This is where competition
for attention will be most acute, where journalistic reputation will
be most at risk, and where diversified revenue streams and smart
strategies will be most critical for survival.
‘Facebook may pay publishers to put their stuff in a dedicated news section’ (Recode, 1 Apr. 2019) https://www.recode.net/2019/4/1/18290330/facebook-news-tab-mark-zuckerberg-
14
license-fee-axel-springer-mathias-dopfner

32 / 33
Section 2
Further Analysis
and International
Comparison
Richard Fletcher
Research Fellow, Reuters Institute
for the Study of Journalism
Antonis Kalogeropoulos
Nic Newman
Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute

2.1 Paying for News and the

Limits of Subscription
Richard Fletcher
This year’s survey finds only a small increase in THE MOVE TO ONGOING PAYMENTS
the numbers paying for any online news. However, Although there has been only a small increase in the numbers
growth in the number of paid subscribers for paying for any online news, one positive development is that
publications like the New York Times, the FT, and most payments are now ‘ongoing’ payments. This includes
news access that is bundled with a subscription to the print
Mediapart, as well as the success of alternative product, or something different like cable or broadband, as well
models like the Guardian’s membership scheme, as straightforward subscriptions that allow people to go beyond
have demonstrated that reader revenues provide the paywall. At the same time, one-off payments have stagnated,
despite the introduction of micropayment platforms like Blendle.
an alternative to the digital advertising most online
news media have historically relied on – advertising This has been encouraging for many news organisations worried
that is primarily going to large platform companies. about their digital future. But it is important to keep in mind that
the numbers of people paying for news subscriptions is still low –
Yet difficult challenges remain. Some in the news business lower than the number that currently pay for print (either through
worry that, even though subscriber numbers remain low by single purchases or subscriptions) in many cases.
some standards, we might already be close to reaching an upper
limit. Others fear the emergence of ‘subscription fatigue’, where
people become frustrated by being asked to pay for multiple UPPER LIMITS FOR ONGOING SUBSCRIPTIONS
services separately. Will only the largest and most prominent
Why do only a minority pay for online news? In our 2017 report
news outlets survive, and how will they fare when forced to
we explored the individual motivations, but willingness to pay
compete with entertainment services like Netflix and Spotify?
for news is also determined by the structure of the news media
For those outside the news business, the issues are different. In environment. Our previous research has shown that the majority
a world of hard paywalls, will a sharp divide between those who of online news in Europe – except for that offered by national
are willing and able to pay for online news, and those who are legacy newspaper publishers – is free at the point of consumption
not, create information inequalities? Will we start to see growing (Cornia et al. 2017). If most online news is free, payment figures
differences between will likely always be low.
REUTERS INSTITUTE FORthe
THEinformation-rich and/ the
STUDY OF JOURNALISM information-
FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 1
poor? In many ways these are questions about the future, but
the data we have now can provide an indication of what might
lie ahead.
PROPORTION THAT MADE AN ONGOING NEWS PAYMENT IN THE LAST YEAR – SELECTED MARKETS
40%
Other payment
Ongoing payment
26
20% 22
14 13 13 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 9 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4
0%
NOR SWE HK USA FIN MEX SGP ZAF AUS MYS DEN POL TWN NLD IRE BEL SPA ROU SUI AUT UK KOR CAN FRA GER ITA ARG CHL GRE JPN SVK CZE POR HUN BGR CRO
Q7ai. Which, if any, of the following ways have you used to pay for ONLINE news content in the last year? Base: Total sample in each market ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005. Note. Ongoing payment refers to digital-only
payments, print-digital bundles, and getting access to digital news when paying for something else (eg broadband).
34 /
Slide 3
Another way of approaching this issue is to ask roughly how NUMBER OF NEWS ORGANISATIONS THAT PEOPLE REGULARLY
often people click on a link, expecting to read an article, and PAY MONEY TO, BY INCOME, EDUCATION, AND INTEREST IN
instead find that they are asked to pay for a subscription. The next NEWS – SELECTED MARKETS
chart shows the proportion of online news users that encounter a
High household Degree Extremely
paywall less than once a week – a group that currently has little or income holders interested in news
60%
no motivation to start paying. It is probably no coincidence that in
56 55 54
countries like Norway and Sweden, where paying for news is most
widespread, just 20% and 25% respectively do not regularly see 45%
paywalls for news. In much of Western Europe and the US, the
Slide 2
figure is around 40%. In Japan, where most news is free due to the
popularity of aggregators, 60% regularly consume news without
30%
26 28 27
bumping into a paywall.
15%
10 10 10
PROPORTION THAT SAY THEY SEE A PAYWALL LESS THAN 4 2 2 4 1 2 4 2 4
ONCE A WEEK – SELECTED MARKETS 0%
1 2 3 4 5 5+ 1 2 3 4 5 5+ 1 2 3 4 5 5+
60% 60 Q7_SUBS. You say you have paid a subscription or made an ongoing donation to a digital news
service in the last year. How many different news providers do you regularly pay money to?
51 Base: High household income/degree holders/extremely interested in news: 1222/1596/1274.
45% 46 46 47 47
44 44 45 45
41 42
39 This is amplified by concerns over what some call ‘subscription
37 38
30% 30 31 fatigue’ – the idea that people are becoming frustrated with being
25 26 asked to pay separately for lots of different services online. If
20 subscription fatigue does start to set in, there are signs that news
15%
might be badly affected. We asked people what online media
subscription they would pick if they could have only one for the
0% next 12 months. Just 12% said they would pick news, compared to
NOR
SWE
POR
DEN
BEL
USA
AUS
SPA
IRE
ITA
CAN
FIN
AUT
FRA
UK
GER
SUI
NLD
POL
JPN
28% that would choose a video streaming service like Netflix, and
nearly one-third (31%) who would pick nothing. This means that,
Q7_SUBS3. How often do you click on a link, expecting to read an article, and find yourself hypothetically, over three-quarters (76%) of people that currently
asked to pay for a subscription instead? Base: Total sample in each country ≈ 2000.
pay for online news would stop paying if they would only have one
online media subscription for the next year.
SUBSCRIPTION FATIGUE? That number is even higher among younger people. They are less
likely to say they would not pay for anything, but also less likely
This gives a sense of the upper limit for the size of the group that to say they would keep news specifically if forced to choose. Just
will pay. But for some, the question of whether people will ever 7% of under 45s would pick news over everything else for the next
pay for an online news subscription has evolved into a question year, compared
REUTERS to FOR
INSTITUTE 15%THE
of those
STUDY45
OFand over. It is/clear
JOURNALISM fromANALYSIS
FURTHER the next
about how many subscriptions people will pay for. As stated in the
Executive Summary, for the time being, the answer appears to
Slide 4
chart that news is a more important part of the mix for older users,
but also that younger people value a broader range of online media,
be ‘one’. The average (median) number of news subscriptions per including gaming and dating services.
person among those that pay is one in almost every country.
But perhaps more importantly, the average almost never exceeds IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE MEDIA SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE
one, regardless of what group you look at. Even among those who NEXT
7% YEAR, WHICH WOULD YOU HAVE? – SELECTED MARKETS
News
are most interested in news, the wealthiest, or the most educated, Under 45
most people only pay money to one news organisation. This
7%
point matters because, depending on the way subscriptions are News
distributed among different publishers, it may mean that only a
45 or over
small handful of those that are currently available will be able to
attract enough paying subscribers to survive. 15%
News
It is also important to keep in mind that news is just one of many News Video Music Sport Online Storage Online Nothing
15% streaming streaming gaming dating
forms of online media that people are now being asked to subscribe News
to. Some worry that news is expected to compete with online video Q_VALUE_2019_A. If you could only have one for the next 12 months, which one of the
streaming like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, music streaming following would you choose? Base: Under 45s/Over 45s: selected markets = 1760/2165.
services like Spotify, as well as a range of other subscription offers.
5.97
6.57
Germany
5.9
6.08

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2019 UK
5.92
6.12
Czech Republic
5.93
6.03
Spain
5.43
6.02
USA Pays
5.29 Does not pay
5.97
PAYWALLS AND INFORMATION INEQUALITIES Of course, it could still be the case that people who rely on free
Germany 0 2 4 6
5.9quality 8 10
sources are on average consuming lower news. Making
Subscription fatigue, and the limits of pay models for news more judgements
Q7a. Have you paidabout news
for ONLINE newsquality
content, orisaccessed
alwaysa paid
challenging,
for ONLINE news but here
service in the 0.25
broadly, will continue to pose a serious challenge for the news 5.92
we can
last year?
Czech use our brand
Q6_2018_trust.
Republic trust scores
How trustworthy would(see Country
you say news fromPages section)
the following brands is?
Please use the scale below, where 0 is ‘not at all trustworthy’ and 10 is ‘completely trustworthy’.
business. Meanwhile, others are concerned about whether the as an
Base: imperfect
Paid/did not pay forproxy in the
online news in the absence
5.93
last year: USAof a widely
= 335/1572, Czechagreed-upon
Republic = 152/1770,
continued growth of pay models will create an unequal news Germany = 160/1788, Spain = 214/1725, UK = 174/1800, Denmark = 303/1639, Norway = 696/1227.
alternative measure. If we compare5.43 the average brand trust score
6.73 0.15
environment, where those willing to pay for news get good-quality of the Norway
newsUSAdiets of those who pay with those who don’t, we see
information, and those that are not will make do with news 5.29 6.71
almost no differences – even across countries with very different
designed to harvest people’s attention. media systems. 6.63
Denmark 0 2 4 6 8 10
0.05
6.57
This is sometimes described using the metaphors like the ‘two-tier 6.08
news environment’. Our data show this can be a little misleading, AVERAGEUK
TRUST SCORES OF PEOPLE’S NEWS DIETS –
6.12
however, because it implies a clear separation between paying SELECTED MARKETS -0.05
6.03
users and those that rely on free sources. In fact, because they have Spain
6.026.73
REUTERS
much INSTITUTE
higher levelsFOR THE STUDY
of interest in OF
theJOURNALISM / FURTHER
news, paying ANALYSIS
users consume Norway
Slide 5
news from both sides of the paywall – and in most cases are heavier Germany
5.976.71
5.96.63
-0.15
users of free sources than those who don’t pay. The chart provides Denmark
evidence of this pattern in the UK. 5.926.57
Czech Republic
5.93
6.08 -0.25
UK
5.436.12
PROPORTION THAT USED EACH SOURCE OF ONLINE NEWS USA
5.296.03
IN THE LAST WEEK – UK
Spain
0 2 4 6.02 6 8 10
61 5.97
BBC 50 Germany
5.9
31 5.92
Guardian 14 Czech Republic
5.93
24
Times 5 5.43 Pays
USA
5.29 Does not pay
20
Sky 14 0 2 4 6 8 10
20
Telegraph 6 Q7a. Have you paid for ONLINE news content, or accessed a paid for ONLINE news service in the
last year? Q6_2018_trust. How trustworthy would you say news from the following brands is?
16 Please use the scale below, where 0 is ‘not at all trustworthy’ and 10 is ‘completely trustworthy’.
Mail 16 Base: Paid/did not pay for online news in the last year: USA = 335/1572, Czech Republic = 152/1770,
Germany = 160/1788, Spain = 214/1725, UK = 174/1800, Denmark = 303/1639, Norway = 696/1227.
16
HuffPost 11
15 This is partly because those that pay continue to consume online
Sun 9 news from sources that most people do not trust. But it is also
15 likely to be due to the fact that many countries – even those such
MSN 8 as Norway
REUTERS where paywalls
INSTITUTE are common
FOR THE STUDY – still have
OF JOURNALISM trusted
/ FURTHER sources
ANALYSIS
BuzzFeed 7
14 Slide 7
that are free at the point of consumption. Indeed, the most trusted
news source in many European countries is the public broadcaster,
14 which is often heavily used by payers and non-payers alike.
Metro 6
14
Mirror 8 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVERAGE TRUST SCORES OF THOSE
THAT PAY FOR NEWS AND THOSE THAT DO NOT – SELECTED
12 MARKETS
ITV 5
12 0.25 Significant difference
FT 2
11 0.15
Express 5
0.04
11 0.05 0.01
Lad Bible 5 -0.01 -0.02
10 -0.05
-0.06
Independent -0.07
6
8 Pays -0.15 -0.14
Local paper 9 Does not pay
8 -0.25 UK Czech Spain Norway Denmark Germany USA
Yahoo! 5 Republic
0% 25% 50% 75%

Q5B. Which of the following brands have you used to access news online in the last week? Please use the scale below, where 0 is ‘not at all trustworthy’ and 10 is ‘completely trustworthy’.
Q7a. Have you paid for ONLINE news content, or accessed a paid for ONLINE news service Base: Paid/did not pay for online news in the last year: USA = 335/1572, Czech Republic = 152/1770,
in the last year? Base: Paid/did not pay for online news in the last year: UK = 174/1800. Germany = 160/1788, Spain = 214/1725, UK = 174/1800, Denmark = 303/1639, Norway = 696/1227.
UK Czech Spain Norway Denmark Germany USA
Republic
36 / 37
This may be why the USA – which has relatively weak public service
media – was the only country we analysed where the news diets
of those that do not pay have on average a significantly lower trust
score (-0.14 on the 0–10 scale) than for those who pay (grey shading
indicates no significant difference).
Indeed, if we remove public service media from the analysis, we see

that a significant gap emerges in Norway (-0.03), Denmark (-0.15),
and, most noticeably of all, the UK (-0.23). This could be read to
suggest that the reason we do not currently see large differences
between the news diets of those who pay and those who don’t is
because they are smoothed out by the fact that many of those that
don’t payINSTITUTE
REUTERS can get trusted
FOR THEnews from
STUDY public service
OF JOURNALISM media.ANALYSIS
/ FURTHER This
Slide 8
suggests that, as paywalls become more commonplace, public
service media will be especially important for keeping information
inequalities low.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVERAGE TRUST SCORES OF THOSE

THAT PAY FOR NEWS AND THOSE THAT DO NOT (PUBLIC
SERVICE MEDIA EXCLUDED) – SELECTED MARKETS
0.25 Significant difference
0.15
0.08
0.05
-0.01
-0.05 -0.03
-0.09
-0.15 -0.15 -0.14
-0.25 -0.23
UK Czech Spain Norway Denmark Germany USA
Republic
Please use the scale below, where 0 is ‘not at all trustworthy’ and 10 is ‘completely trustworthy’.
Base: Paid/did not pay for online news in the last year: USA = 335/1572, Czech Republic = 152/1770,
Germany = 160/1788, Spain = 214/1725, UK = 174/1800, Denmark = 303/1639, Norway = 696/1227.

2.2 Groups and Private Networks

– Time Well Spent?
The number of people accessing news via social These changes will likely alter the nature of political discussion
online. Some academic research has found that political talk
media is now relatively stable in most countries.
on private messaging apps has beneficial outcomes, such as
However, the relationship between news and social increasing political participation (Vaccari and Valeriani 2018).
media continues to evolve. Facebook has stated Yet at the same time, investigations in India and Brazil have
linked WhatsApp groups to the spread of political propaganda,
that private messaging, ephemeral stories, and
misinformation, and hate speech.16 Others worry that the use
small groups are now among the fastest growing of private groups might create echo chambers that reinforce
areas of online communication, and has refocused existing views andFOR
REUTERS INSTITUTE further polarisation
THE STUDY in society.
OF JOURNALISM In theANALYSIS
/ FURTHER light
its strategy on privacy and encryption. Slide 10
of these concerns we were keen to understand more about how
Facebook and WhatsApp groups are being used – and more
Our own research shows that people are spending less time about the people who access them regularly.
with relatively open networks like Facebook and more time with
more private messaging applications like WhatsApp, Facebook
Messenger, Viber, and
REUTERS INSTITUTE Telegram.
FOR THE They
STUDY OF are also using
JOURNALISM them
/ FURTHER more
ANALYSIS
Slide 9
heavily for news. In this section, we explore this shift towards
private spaces for news consumption and discussion, and the
implications this has for publishers and for society.
PROPORTION THAT USE EACH MESSAGING APP FOR NEWS –

SELECTED MARKETS
Yellow Vest protests in France were in part co-ordinated through a series

of private and public ‘anger groups’
WhatsApp Messenger Viber
for news for news for news
Brazil 53% (+5) Greece 25% (+3) Greece 17% (+3) THE EXTENT OF GROUPS IN WHATSAPP
Malaysia 50% (-4) Poland 22% (+9) Bulgaria 16% (+2) AND FACEBOOK
South Africa 49% Belgium 12% (+4) Croatia 13% (+1)
Hong Kong 41% (+3) USA 9% (+2) Looking at nine countries with different levels of social media
activity – US, UK, Spain, Ireland, Turkey, Malaysia, Australia,
Q12b. Which, if any, of the following have you used for news in the last week? Base: Total sample Canada, and Brazil – we find that the majority of Facebook and
in each market ≈ 2000.
WhatsApp users are members of one or more active groups.
Two-thirds (63%) of Facebook users, and three-quarters (76%)
of WhatsApp users, say they used a group during the month
CONTEXT COLLAPSE
leading up in the survey.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledges that not everyone
About half of Facebook users (49%) and around three-quarters
wants to reveal their secrets in the ‘digital equivalent of the town
(72%) of WhatsApp users in these countries said they are part of
square’. Across its networks Facebook is building features that
groups with people they know well, such as friends, colleagues,
facilitate more intimate conversations in smaller, private groups.15
and family. About half of Facebook and WhatsApp users (51%
Within Facebook itself, group discussions have been prioritised
and 46% respectively) are active members of groups that mostly
within the newsfeed, and the discovery of new groups has
include people they do not know.
been improved.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/mark-zuckerberg/a-privacy-focused-vision-for-social-networking/10156700570096634/
15
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-election-whatsapp-explainer/facebooks-whatsapp-flooded-with-fake-news-in-brazil-election-idUKKCN1MU0UZ
16
38
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS / 39
Slide 11
PROPORTION THAT USED A GROUP ON FACEBOOK OR Other popular groups cover topics like health, education, and
WHATSAPP IN THE LAST MONTH – SELECTED MARKETS parenting. GroupsFOR
REUTERS INSTITUTE setTHE
up to discuss
STUDY news or politics
OF JOURNALISM areANALYSIS
/ FURTHER used
Facebook WhatsApp Slide 13

only by a small proportion of users of these platforms in the
UK and Spain (8% of Facebook and 2% of WhatsApp users)
100% WhatsApp leads Facebook leads but these numbers do rise considerably in Turkey and Brazil.
with private groups with public groups
75% PROPORTION OF FACEBOOK AND WHATSAPP USERS THAT

76
72 ARE MEMBERS OF EACH GROUP – ALL NINE MARKETS
63
50% 25%
49 51
46
22
20%
25%
18
17
15%
15
0% 14
Any group Private groups Public groups 13
12 12
(with people (with people 10%
I know well) I do not know)
7 7
5%
Q12_2019_FB/WA. Facebook/WhatsApp allows you to set up, join, and participate in groups,
following have you used in the past month on Facebook/WhatsApp itself? Base: Facebook/ 0%
WhatsApp users: Nine countries = 12,975/9636. Note: This question was asked in USA, UK, Spain, Facebook WhatsApp
Ireland, Turkey, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, and Brazil.
Hobby group
Local community group
WhatsApp groups, as one might expect, are more focused on
Health/education group
private conversation with friends, family, and work colleagues.
Parenting group
By contrast, Facebook Groups tend to be more about sharing
News or politics group
experiences with people we know less well. Having said that, it
is clear that WhatsApp is used very differently across countries
with two basic models. The majority of WhatsApp users in Turkey
Country Facebook groups WhatsApp groups
(65%), Spain (40%), Malaysia (60%), and Brazil (58%) use groups to for news/politics for news/politics
interact with people they don’t know. By contrast, only a minority Turkey 29% 21%
of users in
REUTERS Australia
INSTITUTE (27%)
FOR and the
THE STUDY UK (12%) seem
OF JOURNALISM prepared
/ FURTHER to
ANALYSIS
Slide 12
use WhatsApp in this way. Countries like Brazil, with their bigger
groups, seem to have been more prone to the spread of political
Brazil
Malaysia
22%
17%
18%
15%
misinformation and disinformation via WhatsApp.17 USA 14% 10%
Spain 13% 8%
PROPORTION THAT USE WHATSAPP GROUPS WITH PEOPLE UK 8% 2%
THEY DON’T KNOW – SELECTED MARKETS
Ireland 7% 4%
75%
Canada 7% 8%
65 Australia 7% 6%
58 60
50% Q12_2019_FB/WA. Facebook/WhatsApp allows you to set up, join and participate in groups,
following have you used in the past month on Facebook/WhatsApp itself. Base: Facebook/
40 42 WhatsApp users: USA = 1356/185, UK = 1337/1007, Spain = 1450/1574, Ireland = 1300/1196, Turkey =
34 1479/1552, Malaysia = 1649/1693, Australia = 1426/435, Canada = 1449/314, Brazil = 1529/1680.
25% 30
27
12
0%
NEWS GROUP USERS TEND TO BE MORE PARTISAN
UK AUS IRE CAN SPA USA BRA MYS TUR
What are the demographic characteristics of those that join
Q12_2019_WA. WhatsApp allows you to set up, join, and participate in groups, where you can groups? In the end, people have to make a conscious decision to
discuss news or related topics with like-minded people. Which, if any, of the following have you
used in the past month on WhatsApp itself. Base: WhatsApp users: USA = 185, UK = 1007, Spain = become a member of a group, and this is reflected in their user
1574, Ireland = 1196, Turkey = 1552, Malaysia = 1693, Australia = 435, Canada = 314, Brazil = 1680.
profile. Those that join Facebook or WhatsApp groups tend to be
better educated and more politically committed, coming from the
THE ROLE OF NEWS IN GROUPS far-right or the far-left rather than from the political centre.
The vast majority of Facebook or WhatsApp groups do not cover Other characteristics are more even. Men are slightly more likely
news or politics. In both networks, our data indicate that the most to join a news group, with 16% of male Facebook users part of
popular groups tend to be set up to discuss shared hobbies or news or political groups, compared to 12% of female users,
passions (22% of Facebook users and 17% of WhatsApp users), and the same is broadly true of WhatsApp.
followed by local community groups (18% of Facebook users
and 15% of WhatsApp users).
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/25/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-whatsapp-fake-news
17
REUTERS

Reuters INSTITUTE
Institute for theFOR THE
Study STUDY OF JOURNALISM
of Journalism / FURTHER
/ Digital News ANALYSIS
Report 2019
Slide 14
PROPORTION OF FACEBOOK AND WHATSAPP USERS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF NEWS/POLITICS GROUPS BY EDUCATION
AND POLITICAL LEANING – SELECTED MARKETS
BY EDUCATION Low Med High BY POLITICAL LEANING Left Centre Right Don’t Know
25% 25%
20% 20%
20
19
18
15% 17 15%
14 14
13
10% 12 10% 12
10 10
8
5% 5% 6
5
0% 0%
Facebook WhatsApp Facebook WhatsApp
Q12_2019_FB/WA. Facebook/WhatsApp allows you to set up, join and participate in groups, where you can discuss news or related topics with like-minded people. Which, if any, of the following have
you used in the past month on Facebook/WhatsApp itself. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on
the following scale? Education. What is your highest level of education? Base: Low/medium/highly educated and left/centre/right/don’t know Facebook/WhatsApp users: selected countries = 1751/4783/6441
and 1164/2994/5478 2304/6986/1921/1764 and 1688/5443/1273/1232.
A key characteristic that distinguishes news group users from News group users also tend to have news diets that are quite
the wider population in each country is that they are more likely distinctive. They are significantly more likely to use an alternative
to say they trust the news they get from social media. In the UK, or partisan news source than those who do not use groups for
around half of either WhatsApp or Facebook news groups trust news. In the UK almost a third (30%) of those participating in
news from social (46%) compared with just 10% of the whole news groups within Facebook or WhatsApp use alternative or
sample. We also find large differences between the national partisan brands, compared with just 7% for the overall sample.
average and the users of groups related to news or politics in
Brazil, Malaysia, and Spain. This suggests that, for the minority Even in Brazil, where there is higher use of alternative and
that use them, the news that these groups serve up is an partisan news brands (42% on a weekly basis), we can see
Slide 15
important part of their overall news diet. that their reach is higher among members of Facebook and
WhatsApp news groups (65%). However, it is also clear that
news group users also rely on more mainstream outlets too.
On average they use 7.1 online news sources in a typical week –
around
REUTERSdouble theFOR
average number used by the whole sample
PROPORTION THAT TRUSTS MOST NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA INSTITUTE THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
MOST OF THE TIME – SELECTED MARKETS
Slide 17
across these nine countries (3.6).
National average
Members of news/politics groups on Facebook/WhatsApp
50% 50 PROPORTION THAT USED A PARTISAN OR ALTERNATIVE

WEBSITE IN THE LAST WEEK – SELECTED MARKETS
46
National average
40 Members of news/politics groups on Facebook/WhatsApp
37
35
75%
32 31
65
25% 25
50%
19 46
18 43 42
14
25% 30
10 22
21
7
0% 0%
USA Turkey Spain Malaysia Brazil UK UK Spain USA Brazil
Q12_2019_FB/WA. Facebook/WhatsApp allows you to set up, join, and participate in groups, Q12_2019_FB/WA. Facebook/WhatsApp allows you to set up, join, and participate in groups,
where you can discuss news or related topics with like-minded people. Which, if any, of the where you can discuss news or related topics with like-minded people. Which, if any, of the
following have you used in the past month on Facebook/WhatsApp itself? Q6_2018_2. following have you used in the past month on Facebook/WhatsApp itself? Q5c_2018_1/2. In
Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: I think I can trust recent years a number of online news sites have emerged with their content often distributed
news in social media most of the time. Base: Total sample/member of news/politics groups on via social media. Which, if any, of the following have you heard of/used in the last week? Base:
Facebook or WhatsApp: UK = 2023/125, USA = 2012/197, Spain = 2005/243, Brazil = 2013/477, Turkey Total sample/member of news/politics groups on Facebook or WhatsApp: UK = 2023/125, USA =
= 2074/549, Malaysia = 2101/380. 2012/197, Spain = 2005/243, Brazil = 2013/477.
40 / 41
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLISHERS

As groups have become more relevant, journalists have started
to use them for sourcing and distributing stories. In authoritarian
countries – where the traditional news media are often tightly
controlled – journalists have used private groups in messaging
apps to spread
REUTERS news
INSTITUTE FORabout protests
THE STUDY to key influencers.
OF JOURNALISM 18
/ FURTHER Condé
ANALYSIS
Slide 18
Nast has invested in private Facebook groups for many of its
publications – including the New Yorker Movie Club, where some
28,000 members discuss films with the magazine’s critics.
Spaceship Media is a company in the US that moderates a number

of ‘secret’ Facebook groups where strangers are invited to share
thoughts and experiences about current affairs and broader
topics – engaging in what they call ‘dialogue journalism’.19
Overall, we find that most active users of groups on Facebook and

WhatsApp are not members of groups set up to discuss politics or
news. Those who do are more likely to be male, highly educated,
and partisan. They are also more likely to trust news they get from
social media, and more likely to use many different news sources
– including those that are alternative or partisan.
While these news diets may not be directly linked to their

participation in groups, it is possible that regular interaction with
like-minded people could play a role in reinforcing strongly held
views. Lastly it should be noted that our analysis is focused on
active users of groups set up to discuss politics or news. However,
discussion around news and politics also happens regularly in
groups about health, parenting, or local communities.
https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/foreign_correspondents_chat_apps_unrest.php
18
https://medium.com/@markfrankel29/journalists-have-an-open-invitation-to-an-interesting-and-under-used-beat-5c3d739e16ae
19

2.3 The Rise of Populism and the

Consequences for News and
Media Use
Richard Fletcher
The political landscape of many Western countries People have different views about what populism is. Some argue
that populism is nothing more than a style of communication.
is changing. As long-standing political parties fade,
Others see populism as a ‘thin’ ideology, best understood in
populists make significant gains at the ballot box combination with more comprehensive belief systems such as
– even taking power in some cases. In response, left–right (Mudde 2004). We will turn to this later, but given that
those with populist attitudes do appear to have distinct media
people have started to search for causes and, as is
habits that are relatively consistent across countries, we will
often the case, some have looked to the influence proceed with this simple distinction for now.
of the news media.
Understanding the influence of the news media on people’s POPULIST ATTITUDES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
political attitudes is far from easy, and we should rarely expect
to find straightforward causal links. Nonetheless, a useful first The proportion of the online population that agreed to both
step is to build a better understanding of how different groups statements varies from country to country. Figures range from
within society access news. just under
REUTERS half in the
INSTITUTE FORNetherlands
THE STUDY OF (49%), the UK
JOURNALISM (45%), ANALYSIS
/ FURTHER Norway
In this section we will explore whether people with populist

Slide 19
(49%), and Denmark (42%), to around three-quarters in Slovakia
(71%), Greece (71%), Portugal (73%), and Croatia (77%). In the US,
attitudes in Europe and the US have different media habits to 54% of those surveyed agreed with both of the above statements.
the rest of the population.20 In particular, we will describe how
they arrive at news, how they interact with it, and what outlets
they rely on. We will also show how newer, more partisan, and PROPORTION WITH POPULIST ATTITUDES –
SELECTED MARKETS
alternative news outlets are carving out audiences from the gaps
left by established news media.
DEFINING POPULISM
Inspired by recent cross-national research, we identified those
with populist attitudes based on their belief in: (i) the existence
of a ‘bad’ elite and the ‘virtuous’ people – two separate groups
with competing interests, and (ii) the ultimate sovereignty of 75%
the will of the people (Pew Center 2018). We tapped the first 70%
dimension by asking people whether they agree (on a five-point 65%
scale ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’) that 60%
‘most elected officials don’t care what people like me think’, 55%
and the second by asking whether ‘the people should be asked 50%
whenever important decisions are taken’. For the purposes of 45%
the analysis here, those that selected ‘tend to agree’ or ‘strongly
agree’ for both of these statements were placed in the ‘populist Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The
attitudes’ group, with all other respondents placed in the ‘non- people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t
care what people like me think. Base: Total sample in each country ≈ 2000.
populist attitudes’ group.
Our data comes from the following 23 European countries: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland,
20
Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Greece.
42 / 43
Slide 21
This suggests that populist attitudes are less widespread in Northern MAIN GATEWAY TO ONLINE NEWS BY ATTITUDES –
and Western European countries than in Eastern and Southern EUROPE AND THE USA
Europe. In almost every country we analysed, populist attitudes 50% Populist Non-populist
are more common among those either in the older age groups,
with lower incomes, or with lower levels of formal education. EUROPE USA
THOSE WITH POPULIST ATTITUDES PREFER 36

TELEVISION OVER ONLINE NEWS 32
28 27 28
Despite concern that the rise of populism is being driven by 25%
24 24 25 24
online media, when it comes to news, those with populist 22
attitudes prefer offline news use – especially TV. Of those with 18 17
populist attitudes, 46% say that television is their main source
of news, compared to 40% of those without. This preference is
stronger for commercial
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THEtelevision outlets, but
STUDY OF JOURNALISM weaker ANALYSIS
/ FURTHER for public
Slide 20
service broadcasters. Indeed, public service media have been
a particular target for negative attacks from populists as their
0%
influence has grown in recent years (Cushion 2018). Social Search Direct Social Search Direct
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
MAIN SOURCE OF NEWS BY ATTITUDES – EUROPE AND THE USA The people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials
don’t care what people like me think. Q10. Thinking about how you got news online (via
computer, mobile or any device) in the last week, which were the ways in which you came
Populist Non-populist across news stories? Base: People with populist/non-populist attitudes who used an online news
gateway in the last week: Europe = 25,559/17,038, USA = 1000/763.
50%
46 45
42 The preference for social media among those with populist attitudes
40
is largely due to a preference for Facebook. This group is more likely
to use Facebook as a source of news, but no more likely to use other
25% social networks like Twitter. Furthermore, our data also suggest that
this gap may be growing. As a group, those with populist attitudes
say they have started spending more time on Facebook in the past
12 months, whereas everyone else says they are spending less.
7 8 8
5 This pattern makes sense if we think of Facebook as a network
0%
TV Radio Print Online (inc. social) that primarily
REUTERS surfaces
INSTITUTE content
FOR THE STUDY based on the preferences
OF JOURNALISM of
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
Slide 22
ordinary citizens, as opposed to Twitter, which many see as being
dominated by elite voices, the established news media, and a
The people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials
don’t care what people like me think. Q4. You say you’ve used these sources of news in the relatively small and generally more privileged user base.
last week, which would you say is your MAIN source of news? Base: People with populist/
non-populist attitudes in Europe and USA = 28,049/18,952.
PROPORTION THAT USE EACH SOCIAL NETWORK FOR NEWS

THOSE WITH POPULIST ATTITUDES ARE HEAVY BY ATTITUDES – EUROPE AND THE USA
FACEBOOK NEWS USERS Populist Non-populist
Nonetheless, online news access is clearly important for those with 50%
50
populist attitudes, as well as for those without. If we drill deeper
and look at the different ways people arrive at news online, we see 41
many similarities between these groups – but also key differences.
In Europe, directly accessing a branded website or app is the single
most popular way of arriving at online news for those with populist 25%
25
23
attitudes (31%) and for those without (35%). However, those with
populist attitudes have a stronger preference for social media (24% 15
13 13 13
compared to 19%). In the US, social media ties with direct access as 11
8 9
7
the main way of arriving at news for those with populist attitudes.
0%
There’s also no clear preference for direct access among those Twitter Instagram WhatsApp Facebook YouTube Facebook
without populist attitudes. Messenger
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The people
should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care what
people like me think. Q12B. Which, if any, of the following have you used for finding, reading,
watching, sharing or discussing news in the last week? Base: People with populist/non-populist
attitudes in Europe and USA = 28,049/18,952.

People with populist attitudes are also more likely to share and POPULIST ATTITUDES AND NEWS OUTLET
comment on news more when using social networks. Other studies SELECTION
have found that populist parties tend to be more active on Facebook
– posting more, and generating more interactions with their content Our data also show that those with populist attitudes gravitate
than established parties.21 These trends could be combining to create towards different news outlets, and thus have different news
a social media environment where populist ideas and perspectives diets. If we take our cross-platform data (online use combined
are over-represented – however it is not possible to conclude this with offline use) from the UK as an example, we can see that some
from our data alone. So far, there’s little evidence that the growth of outlets are more widely used by those with populist attitudes than
populism is being primarily
REUTERS INSTITUTE drivenOF
FOR THE STUDY byJOURNALISM
the popularity of social
/ FURTHER media –
ANALYSIS
those without, and vice versa. People who hold populist views are
significantly more likely to use ITV, the Mirror, the Express, and the
Slide 23
but it may be the case that people’s discontent with the established
media is prompting people to rely more on social media for news Sun, but those without populist attitudes are more likely to rely on
(Schulz 2019). the FT, Channel 4, the Telegraph, The Times, the Guardian, and the
BBC. Audiences for other brands – including the Mail and Sky –
are roughly evenly split.
PROPORTION THAT INTERACT WITH NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
BY ATTITUDES – EUROPE AND USA This pattern reflects a preference for commercial TV and tabloid
50%
newspapers among those with populist attitudes. Those without,
Populist Non-populist
on the other hand, seem to prefer broadsheet newspaper brands
EUROPE USA
and public service media. Some digital-born sites like HuffPost
and BuzzFeed tend to have news audiences that are fairly
evenly split. Other outlets however – particularly those we have
25% 27
previously referred to as alternative or partisan outlets – are
25 24 often favoured by those with populist views, in addition to having
23 23
19 20 audiences with a heavy left–right skew.
16
It is also noticeable how populist preferences cut across left–right
divides, highlighting new dimensions along which news audiences
0%
Share news on Comment Share news on Comment can be segmented. For example, those with populist attitudes
social media on news on social media on news on exhibit a clear preference for both the right-leaning Sun and the
social media social media
left-leaning Mirror. Similarly, those without populist attitudes
have a preference for both the Guardian and the Telegraph –
should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care what two newspapers with very different editorial lines.
people like me think. Q13. During an average week in which, if any, of the following ways do
you share or participate in news coverage? Base: People with populist/non-populist attitudes:
Europe = 27,539/18,765, USA = 1125/875.
Slide 24
PROPORTION THAT USE EACH OUTLET FOR NEWS BY ATTITUDES – UK

Populist Non-populist
100%
MORE POPULIST AUDIENCE LESS POPULIST AUDIENCE

82
75%
74
50%
45
34
25% 26
21 21
15 13 13 15 14
12 10
9 2 9 8
6 6
0%
ITV Sun Mirror Express FT Channel 4 Telegraph Times Guardian BBC
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care what
people like me think. Q5B. Which of the following brands have you used to access news online in the last week? Base: People with populist/non-populist attitudes: UK = 875/1148.
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-populists-european-election-alternative-for-deutschland-rassemblement-national-facebook/
21
44 / 45
POPULISM AND NEWS AUDIENCE POLARISATION In the charts below, we compare the degree to which countries have
strong left- or right-leaning audiences, with the degree to which
Given these different usage patterns, we might wonder they have strong populist or non-populist audiences. In the UK and
whether news audiences are polarised according to populist the US – as in most countries – the extent of left–right polarisation
attitudes. In other words, to what extent do those with populist is greater than the level of populist polarisation. The UK – with its
attitudes consume news from one set of outlets, and those prominent tabloid press – is home to outlets with relatively large
without from another? populist audiences, but given that some outlets have audiences with
a higher proportion of left- or right-leaning people (indicated by their
In our 2017 report, we explored how individual left–right
distance from the centre of the map), it’s arguably true that left–right
preferences created a large degree of news audience polarisation in
preferences are more important to people when deciding what news
some countries, but not in others. We saw that in the US, the UK,
outlets to use. This is even more so in the US, where the degree of
and in Southern and Eastern Europe, audiences for news outlets
left–right polarisation is particularly strong.
are often heavily right- or left-leaning – with relatively few outlets
able to attract people of different persuasions. Whereas in other In Germany, we see a different pattern. Here, the level of populist
countries – typically those in Western and Northern Europe – news audience polarisation is broadly similar to the US and
news outlets had mixed audiences made up of centrists, those the UK, but because the degree of left–right polarisation is low
on the left, and those on the right.
Slide 25 due to a general reluctance from the German news media to
adopt partisan positions, populist attitudes have become more
important to people when deciding what outlets to use.
CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – UK
LEFT-RIGHT POLARISATION
BBC
Sun Daily Mail

Independent Buzzfeed News
Left-leaning Canary Westmonster Right-leaning

audience Guardian Telegraph audience
ITV
POPULIST POLARISATION
BBC
Daily Mail
Mirror
Economist FT
Less populist More populist

audience Guardian Sun audience
ITV
National average
CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – USA
CNN ABC Fox

Occupy HuffPost Yahoo!
Democrats AOL Mail Online Breitbart
Left-leaning Right-leaning
audience New York NBC CBS audience
Times
POPULIST POLARISATION
CNN Fox
Vanity Fair
Less populist Breitbart

More populist
audience New York Times NBC
audience
National average
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care
what people like me think. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the following scale?
Q5A/B. Which of the following brands have you used to access news offline/online in the last week? Base: Total sample: UK = 2023, USA = 2012.
REUTERS

Reuters INSTITUTE
Institute for theFOR THE
Study STUDY OF JOURNALISM
of Journalism / FURTHER
/ Digital News ANALYSIS
Report 2019
Slide 26
CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – GERMANY
ARD
ZDF Bild
Junge Freiheit Epoch Times
Left-leaning Right-leaning
REUTERS
audienceINSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER
Spiegel ANALYSIS audience
Slide 28
RTL
ARD
POPULIST POLARISATION Bild
FAZ
Epoch Times
Less populist Web.de More populist

audience Süddeutsche audience
Spiegel RTL
ZDF
National average
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care
what people like me think. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the following scale?
Q5A/B. Which of the following brands have you used to access news offline/online in the last week? Base: Total sample: Germany = 2022.
MAPPING NEWS AUDIENCES ALONG TWO The US and the UK both contain a mixture of outlets with populist
DIMENSIONS left and populist right audiences. The Mirror, for example, clearly
has an audience that is predominantly made up of people who
Although some assume populism to be closely aligned with the self-identify on the left, and who also hold populist attitudes.
right, scholars tend to see populism as a thin ideology that can Readers of the Sun also tend to hold populist attitudes, but self-
be combined with both left- and right-wing views. Within each identify on the right.
country we can essentially merge the above maps to identify
outlets with populist left or populist right audiences. In the US, though there are some outlets with populist audiences
– such as Fox and HuffPost – it is also clear that the majority of
When we do this, a number of interesting patterns emerge. The outlets have audiences that are predominantly non-populist
position of each outlet along the horizontal axis indicates whether left, such as the New York Times. It is also clear that none of the
it has a left-leaning or right-leaning audience, with the distance outlets we examined in the US have audiences that are as skewed
from the centre indicating the strength of the skew. The position towards populists as in the UK. It may be that the inability or
on the vertical axis indicates whether the outlet has a populist unwillingness of the established news media in the US to connect
audience. The higher the outlet, the more its audience is skewed with those with populist attitudes has created a ‘populist vacuum’
towards those with populist attitudes. Outlets with populist- – which may explain why many turn to social media and talk radio
left audiences are coloured red, and outlets with populist right for news and information.
audiences are coloured blue.
CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – UK AND USA

Populist left Populist right Populist left Populist right
audience audience audience audience
Sun
Mirror
ITV
Canary Breitbart
Express CBS Fox
Westmonster HuffPost NBC AOL

Lad Bible
Yahoo!
BBC Mail
Independent
NYT
Slate USA
Today
Times Telegraph LA Times
Guardian
FT
Economist
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care what people
like me think. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the following scale? Q5A/B. Which of the
following brands have you used to access news offline/online in the last week? Base: Total sample: UK = 2023, USA = 2012.
46 / 47
Not every country has this relatively even balance between Sweden contains some extreme examples of this phenomenon.
populist left and populist right audiences. In Germany, we did Outlets like Fria Tider are used by around 10% of the online
not find any outlets with a populist left audience in our data. population, and have audiences that are heavily skewed towards
However, a considerable number of outlets have populist right those that both self-identify on the right and hold populist views.
audiences, particularly commercial television channels like Sat.1 These outlets are sometimes understood as anti-immigration,
and RTL. In Spain we see the opposite. Here, there are several but are also critical of political elites and the criminal justice
outlets
REUTERSwith populist
INSTITUTE FORleft
THEaudiences, but only a/handful
STUDY OF JOURNALISM FURTHERon the
ANALYSIS system (Nygaard
REUTERS INSTITUTE2019).
FOR THETheir tone
STUDY and style of/coverage
OF JOURNALISM is a clear
FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 30
right. It is perhaps no coincidence that Spain has also seen one of
the strongest populist left political movements in recent years, Slide 31
departure from the norms that govern the established television
and newspaper outlets in Sweden.
though the populist right did well in 2019 elections.
CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – GERMANY AND SPAIN CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – SWEDEN
Populist left Populist right Populist left Populist right
audience audience audience audience
Det Goda
Epoch Times Samhallet
Ledarsidorna
Nyheter Idag
Sat.1 Samhallsnytt
Samtiden
RTL Fria Tider
ZDF Bild Nya Tider
ARD Junge Freiheit Expressen

Metro Nyheter 24
Spiegel SVT Dagens Industri

FAZ SR
Svenska
Dagbladet
Dagens
Nyheter
Populist left Populist right

audience audience
should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t care what
people like me think. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to describe parties and
politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the following scale? Q5A/B.
Which of the following brands have you used to access news offline/online in the last week?
Base: Total sample: Sweden = 2007.
TVE
La Sexta Antena3
OKDiario
Directe.cat
In France and Italy, perhaps the most notable feature of the maps
COPE
is that the most popular outlets also have a higher than average
ABC number of people with populist attitudes in their audience. These
La Razon
are typically commercial television channels, again highlighting
the link between populist attitudes and seeing TV as the main
source of news.
We have not fully explored the links between populist attitudes

and trust this year. But our data do show less of a trust gap
between those with populist attitudes and those without populist
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The
people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t attitudes in countries where the most popular news outlets
care what people like me think. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to
describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the have populist audiences. However, in countries where populist
following scale? Q5A/B. Which of the following brands have you used to access news offline/ outlets are less prominent – often because public service media
online in the last week? Base: Total sample: Germany = 2022, Spain = 2005.
are dominant – populists are considerably less likely to think that
they can trust most news most of the time. In short, people who
The maps we have shown so far also contain partisan and do not find any news media that reflect their attitudes often trust
alternative news websites – such as the Canary in the UK and all news media less.
Breitbart in the US. These outlets usually have very left- or right-
leaning audiences, but as is clear from the maps, they often have
very populist audiences as well. Breitbart has the most populist
audience in our US dataset, and the Canary’s audience is also
more likely to hold populist views.

Reuters
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 32
CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MAP – FRANCE AND ITALY

audience audience
Le Media Cnews
20 Minutes BFM
Libération
TF1
Rue89
Le Monde
La Croix

audience audience
Rai SkyTg24
Mediaset
La Republicca
Corriere Il Giornale
Il Messangero
Q2_2019_1/2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The
people should be asked whenever important decisions are taken/Most elected officials don’t
care what people like me think. Q1F. Some people talk about ‘left’, ‘right’, and ‘centre’ to
describe parties and politicians. With this in mind, where would you place yourself on the
following scale? Q5A/B. Which of the following brands have you used to access news offline/
online in the last week? Base: Total sample: France = 2005, Italy = 2006.
It has become fashionable to dismiss left–right as an outdated

concept that no longer explains people’s beliefs. But when it
comes to news use, it is still able to explain a lot in both Europe
and the US. Populism clearly matters too, but is best understood
in combination with left–right self-identification.
A key question for publishers is how they will understand their

own position within this two-dimensional space, especially as
new partisan and alternative outlets carve out audiences from
the spaces they have left vacant. A key question for public debate
concerns what will happen if a significant minority is unable
to find some, if any, established news outlets that reflect their
attitudes, and instead turns to alternative and partisan outlets,
and social media.
48 / 49
2.4 What do People Think about

the News Media?
Antonis Kalogeropoulos and Richard Fletcher
Research Fellows, Reuters Institute
The news media rely on their audience both for Evaluations of the media along other dimensions tend to be
more negative. Under half (42%) agree with the proposition
their public importance and for their economic
that the news media monitor and scrutinise the powerful, only
sustainability. No matter how good reporting 29% agree that the news media cover topics that are relevant to
may be, if people do not value it, it is unlikely to them, and just 16% think that the news media use the right tone.
Four in ten
REUTERS (39%) FOR
INSTITUTE think that
THE theOF
STUDY news media are
JOURNALISM too negative.
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
have a significant impact on public opinion or
public knowledge. Similarly, if people find news Slide 33
However, it is important to point out that many people do not
have a strong view about this, with almost half (44%) selecting
disappointing, no matter how proud journalists may neither agree nor disagree.
be of their work, people might be unwilling to pay
for it as a commercial product or as a public service. PROPORTION THAT AGREED WITH EACH ATTITUDE TOWARDS
THE NEWS – ALL MARKETS
They may also be reluctant to back the news media
if political leaders try to crack down on them or Agree Neither agree/disagree Disagree
intimidate them.
The news media
uses the right tone 16 39
This year we dug a little deeper into people’s attitudes towards
news media using a series of questions designed to explore how
The topics chosen by the news
well they thought they were performing. More specifically, we media feel relevant to me 29 25
asked people whether they think the news media fulfil their
watchdog role (do the news media monitor and scrutinise The news media monitors and
political and business leaders?), whether the news media pick scrutinises powerful people 42 19
relevant subjects, whether they adopt the right tone (are they and businesses
too negative?), whether they keep the people up to date, and –

The news media helps me
last – whether they help them understand current events.22 understand the news of the day 51 15
These are all things that the news media generally strive to do
well. Many journalists would likely see them as being at the very The news media keeps me up to
date with what is going on 62 11
core of their professional mission – a mission that they would
argue the news media delivers on uniquely well. But what does 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
the public think?
Q15_2019_1/2/3/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses/The topics chosen by
the news media do not feel relevant to me/The news media often take too negative view of
NEWS MEDIA DO WELL AT KEEPING PEOPLE UP events/The news media keep me up to date with what’s going on/The news media help me
understand the news of the day. Base: Total sample = 75,749.
TO DATE
In the Executive Summary we saw that, across all countries, most
people agree that the news media keep them up to date with
what’s happening (62%), and that they help them understand
current events (51%). But we should keep in mind that there is
a significant minority (10–15%) that completely disagree that
the news media help them in this regard – and perhaps equally
concerning, around one-third who neither agree nor disagree.
Throughout this chapter, and unlike the Executive Summary, we reversed coded responses for the statements ‘the topics chosen by the news media do not feel relevant to me’ and ‘the news
22
media often take too negative view of events’, and renamed them ‘the topics chosen by the news media feel relevant to me’ and ‘use the right tone’ for better readability and comparability.

ATTITUDES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES powerful people and helping them understand news, whereas in
Hungary only one-fifth of respondents (20%) think that the news
These aggregate numbers can hide large national differences. media fulfil their watchdog role, and a third (33%) that they help
Below we use a series of radar charts to display the differences them understand the news.
between two countries where respondents have relatively
positive attitudes towards the news media (Finland and Canada), However, even among these edge cases, we find consistently low
approval of the news media’s tone. Only 9% thinks that the news
Slide 34
and two countries where people are much more negative
(Greece and Hungary). In Finland and Canada, roughly half of media uses the right tone (in terms of negativity) in Greece,
respondents think that the media do a good job in monitoring compared to 25% in Finland.
PROPORTION THAT AGREED WITH EACH ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NEWS – SELECTED MARKETS
Monitor Monitor
The news media in mypowerful
country:people powerful people
Monitor Monitor
CANADA powerful people HUNGARY powerful people
49%
Help me Pick Help me Pick
understand relevant understand 20% relevant
the news 60% subjects the news subjects
49% 31% 33% 29%
Help me Pick Help me Pick
understand relevant understand 20%17% relevant
the news 60% 18% subjects the news subjects
31% 33%36% 29%
70% 18% 17%

Keep me Use the Keep me Use the
up to date right tone up to date 36% right tone
Keep me 70% Use the Keep me Use the

up to date right tone up to date right tone
Monitor Monitor
FINLAND powerful people GREECE powerful people
Monitor Monitor
powerful people powerful people
51%
Help me Pick Help me 39% Pick
understand relevant understand relevant
the news 56% 51% subjects the news 46% subjects
33% 32%
understand relevant understand 9% relevant
the news 56% 25% subjects the news 46% subjects
33% 32%
53% 9%
Keep me 75% 25% Use the Keep me Use the
53%
Keep me 75% Use the Keep me Use the
Q15_2019_1/2/3/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses/The topics chosen by the news
media do not feel relevant to me/The news media often take too negative view of events/The news media keep me up to date with what’s going on/The news media help me understand the news of
the day. Base: Total sample: Canada = 2055, Hungary = 2007, Finland = 2009, Greece = 2018.
ATTITUDES WITHIN COUNTRIES We might also expect to see differences by age. Older people
are arguably more likely to have been socialised with a more
We can also see differences between groups within countries. If we positive view of the news media, and with a stronger normative
look at differences by education, in the UK and Germany we can see view about the importance of the role that the news media play
that those with higher levels of formal education are more likely to within society. However, when it comes to age, although the
evaluate the news media positively along every dimension. Those over 35s in Germany do tend to rate the media slightly more
with lower levels of education are, for example, significantly less positively, in the UK the differences are small.
likely to say that the news media cover topics that are relevant to
them, suggesting that the news agenda is more geared towards the
interests and needs of the more educated. This chimes with the
criticism that the news media do a better job of catering for people
who are most similar to the journalists themselves, and are less able
to serve those groups that are less likely to be found in the newsroom.
50 / 51
Slide 36
PROPORTION THAT AGREED WITH EACH ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NEWS BY EDUCATION – UK AND GERMANY
The news media in my country:

Monitor powerful people Monitor powerful people
Low education High education

UK UK
43%
Help me 37% Pick Help me Pick
the news 50% subjects the news 63% subjects
22% 37%
9% 15%
63%
Keep me Use the Keep me 79% Use the
Low education High education

GERMANY GERMANY
Help me 33% Pick Help me 34% Pick

the news 44% subjects the news 49% 45% subjects
34%
18% 20%
57%
66%
Slide 37
Q15_2019_1/2/3/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses/The topics chosen by the news
the day. Base: Low/high education: UK = 558/839, Germany = 596/642.
PROPORTION THAT AGREED WITH EACH ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NEWS BY AGE – UK AND GERMANY

Under 35 Over 35
UK UK
44%
Help me 37% Pick Help me Pick
the news 57% subjects the news 58% subjects
33% 31%
17% 12%
Keep me 74% Use the Keep me 73% Use the

Under 35 Over 35
GERMANY GERMANY

30%
the news 46% subjects the news 50% 44% subjects
35%
17% 22%
62% 63%
Q15_2019_1/2/3/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses/The topics chosen by the
news media do not feel relevant to me/The news media often take too negative view of events/The news media keep me up to date with what’s going on/The news media help me understand the
news of the day. Base: Under/Over 35s: UK = 413/1610, Germany = 450/1572.
45%
Help me Pick
understand relevant
the news
Reuters Institute subjects
for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2019
23% 20%
8%
36%
Keep me Use the

up to date
In the US, people’s evaluations are much more right toneto be shaped
likely positive towards the news media than high-trust countries like
by their political views – reflecting the highly politicised nature of Finland and Canada. The most striking differences surround
attitudes
The towards
news media thescrutinise
monitor and news powerful
media.peopleAs illustrated below,
and businesses/The right-
topics chosen by attitudes towards help with understanding: 65% on the left think
the news media do not feel relevant to me/The news media often take too negative view of
wing Americans evaluate the news media very negatively –
events/The news media keep me up to date with what’s going on/The news media help me
even that the news media do a good job in helping understand the
more negatively
understand the news of than
the day.in countries
Base: with
Left/Right: USA low trust in the news like
= 504/497. news, whereas only 23% of right-wing Americans think the same.
Hungary and Greece. Conversely, left-wing Americans are more
PROPORTION THAT AGREED WITH EACH ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NEWS BY POLITICAL LEANING – USA
Monitor
Monitor powerful
powerful people
people Monitor
Monitor powerful
powerful people
people
Left-wing Right-wing
Americans Americans
55%
55%
45%
45%
Help
Help me
me Pick
Pick Help
Help me
me Pick
Pick
understand
understand relevant
relevant understand
understand relevant
relevant
the
the news
news 65%
65% 48%
48% subjects
subjects the
the news
news subjects
subjects
23%
23% 20%
20%
8%
8%
39%
39% 36%
36%
Keep
Keep me
me 77%
77% Use
Use the
the Keep
Keep me
me Use
Use the
the
up
up to
to date
date right
right tone
tone up
up to
to date
date right
right tone
tone
Q15_2019_1/2/3/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: The newsREUTERS INSTITUTE
media monitor FORpowerful
and scrutinise THE STUDY peopleOF JOURNALISM
and businesses/The/topics
FURTHER
chosenANALYSIS
by the news
Slide 39
the day. Base: Left/Right: USA = 504/497.
THE ASSOCIATION WITH TRUST AND PAY PROPORTION THAT TRUSTS NEWS BY ATTITUDES TOWARDS
THE NEWS – ALL MARKETS
As we alluded to at the start of this section, people’s evaluations of
Bad job Good job
the news media matter because they might be linked to positive
outcomes like trust in the news and willingness to pay for it. 75%
Trust least dependent Trust most dependent
on tone of coverage and on immediacy of coverage
Predictably, our study shows that those who think that the news relevance of topics and understanding
media fulfil the basic functions examined in this section are more
likely to trust the news. However, the impact of each role on trust 58
55 55
varies considerably. Views on the tone of news coverage do not 50% 52
appear to influence trust very much: 48% of those who think that 48
the news media use the appropriate tone say they trust the news, but 43 43
this only drops to 43% among those who find the news too negative.
Other media attributes are very important for trust. The majority 28
25%
(58%) of those who agree that the news media do a good job in
helping them understand what is going on in the world trust the 19
17
news, while only 19% of those who disagree with the statement
do so. Immediacy was also found to be highly correlated with
trust. Those who believe that the news media do a good job in
0%
keeping them up to date with events tend to trust news (55%), Tone of Topic Watchdog Immediacy Helps with
while only 17% of those who disagree with the statement do so. coverage relevance of coverage understanding
Put simply, we find that people are more likely to trust the news
if they feel it keeps them up to date with what’s happening, helps The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses/The topics chosen
them understand it, and holds power to account. by the news media do not feel relevant to me/The news media often take too negative view of
understand the news of the day. Q6_2016_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the
Though the links between these evaluations and trust are following statements: I think you can trust most news most of the time. Base: Bad/Good: Tone
of coverage = 12,295/29,774, Topic relevance = 21,950/18,876, Watchdog = 31,465/14,479, Immediacy
sometimes quite strong, links with patterns of news use – such of coverage = 46,881/8699, Helps with understanding = 38,786/11,061.
as paying for online news – tend to be weaker. Regardless of
whether we consider people that have positive or negative
evaluations of the media along these dimensions, the proportion
that have paid for online news in the last year remains the same
at around 15%. This suggests that evaluations of the news media
are not necessarily important for people’s willingness to pay, and
that this willingness is likely to be influenced by other factors.
5%
52
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS /
Slide 40 Slide 41
0%
Topic Immediacy Helps with Watchdog Tone of
relevance of coverage understanding coverage
PROPORTION THAT PAID FOR ONLINE NEWS IN THE LAST PROPORTION THAT AGREES THAT THE NEWS MEDIA
YEAR BY ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE NEWS – ALL MARKETS MONITOR AND SCRUTINISE THE POWERFUL – ALL MARKETS
25% Bad job Good job
BRA 56
ZAF 53
20%
POL 52
17 NOR 51
15% 16 16
15 15 15 51
14 14 FIN
13 13
10% POR 51
CAN 49
5% ROU 49
SWE 49
0% FRA 47
Topic Immediacy Helps with Watchdog Tone of
relevance of coverage understanding coverage CRO 47
SVK 46
Q15_2019_1/2/3/4/5. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: AUS 45
The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses/The topics chosen
by the news media do not feel relevant to me/The news media often take too negative view of MEX 45
understand the news of the day. 7a. Have you paid for ONLINE news content, or accessed a USA 45
paid for ONLINE news service in the last year? Base: Those who give positive/negative responses 45
to different evaluations: Tone of coverage = 12295/29774, Topic relevance = 21950/18876, Watchdog DEN
= 31465/14479, Immediacy of coverage = 46881/8699, Helps with understanding = 38786/11061.
TUR 45
SUI 43
THE NEWS MEDIA’S WATCHDOG ROLE MYS 42
UK 42
We can also take a closer look at attitudes towards the watchdog 42
BGR
role of the news media – whether they succeed in monitoring and 42
CZE
scrutinising the powerful. As we have already seen, a majority of 41
ARG
those who think that the news media fulfil their watchdog role
IRE 40
trust the news (55%), whereas only about a quarter (28%) of
SPA 40
those believing they do not fulfil this role say the same.
AUT 39
We find large variations in attitudes towards the media’s watchdog GRE 39
role country to country. In Brazil, South Africa, Poland, Norway, BEL 38
Finland, and Portugal, a majority agrees that the news media do HK 38
indeed monitor and scrutinise powerful people. On the other hand, GER 37
in Korea, Hungary, and Japan only about a fifth of respondents NLD 36
agree with that statement. In Japan, in particular, the press is seen CHL 36
as being too close to the government, with most coverage rarely ITA 33
deviating from the official line. 32
SGP
TWN 30
The other side of this is how journalists in different countries
KOR 21
evaluate their own role as watchdogs. We compare our audience
HUN 20
evaluations of the watchdog role with how journalists in different
countries evaluate the importance of being a watchdog in the JPN 17
2016 Worlds of Journalism Study.23 We find that in countries like 0% 25% 50% 75%
Germany or the UK, there are few discrepancies between how
Q15_2019_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The news
important journalists think being a watchdog is for their work, and media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses. Base: Total sample in each market
how audiences see the news media’s performance as watchdogs. ≈ 2000, Taiwan = 1005.
http://www.worldsofjournalism.org
23
Denmark
80
45

Reuters Institute
USA for the Study of Journalism / Digital News Report 2019
86
38
Hong Kong
80
21
South Korea
However, we see large discrepancies in other countries. 86 In Our research shows that most people want some simple, basic
Japan, 91% of journalists 17 think that monitoring and scrutinising things from the news media – to keep them up to date, help
political leaders is important for their work, whereas only
Japan
91
17% them understand what is going on, and keep an eye on those in
of news users in Japan agree that the news media monitor and a position of power. These are things that many journalists and
scrutinise powerful people and businesses. We further find news media would argue they are already doing, though our
Q15_2019_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The news
large discrepancies
media monitor and scrutinisein the US,
powerful where
people 86% ofBase:
and businesses. journalists
Total sample inconsider
each market data suggest that there is still a significant gap to close in terms
being a watchdog
≈ 2000. Note: important
Data for journalists’ to their
opinions taken from thework, butofonly
2016 Worlds 45%
Journalism ofPlease
Study. of public perception. Better transparency about journalistic
tell me how important each of these things is in your work: Monitor and scrutinise political leaders.
American news users think that the news media are fulfilling processes might help, along with improved marketing of the
their watchdog role. important work journalists do.
PROPORTION OF AUDIENCE AND JOURNALISTS THAT AGREE THAT THE NEWS MEDIA
MONITOR AND SCRUTINISE THE POWERFUL – SELECTED MARKETS
100% Audience Journalists
91
86 86
78 80 80
75%
64 65 66
50% 51 51
48
44 45 45
42
37 39 38
36 36
33
25%
21
17
0%
Germany UK Italy Finland Greece Portugal Chile Denmark USA Hong Kong South Korea Japan
Q15_2019_1. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The news media monitor and scrutinise powerful people and businesses. Base: Total sample in each market ≈ 2000.
Note: Data for journalists’ opinions taken from the 2016 Worlds of Journalism Study. Please tell me how important each of these things is in your work: Monitor and scrutinise political leaders.
54 / 55
2.5 How Younger Generations

Consume News Differently
In this section we look at the news consumption They use them for communication, for media, for games, for
dating – and for news. Across all markets, our survey data reveal
of younger generations – a group that is of great
that the smartphone is the main device used for accessing news
interest to news publishers around the world, but for the vast majority of under 35s (69%).
also one they are finding it increasingly hard to
Another way of illustrating the primacy of smartphone news
reach. We explore the attitudes and behaviours for young people is to look at data on their first contact with
that define the under 35s, and ask what kind of news on a typical day.25 Nearly half of Gen Z news users (45%)
journalism or brand positioning might appeal to in our combined sample come into first contact with news in
the morning via the smartphone, with only 19% via TV and 5%
them. Our data highlight that young people are very via desktops/laptops. Similar trends can be seen among Gen
reliant on mobile, and spend a lot of time with a Y, who also
REUTERS first turn
INSTITUTE FORto their
THE smartphone
STUDY (39%)
OF JOURNALISM over TV ANALYSIS
/ FURTHER (22%)
range of different social networks. As such, much of Slide 43
or the computer (8%). By sharp contrast, for over 35s television
is still the most likely first contact point with news (30%), with
their media use is on-demand and algorithmically smartphone (19%) and radio (18%) some way behind.
curated/personalised. The problem for publishers is
that this means that individual news brands tend to
PROPORTION THAT SAID EACH WAS THEIR FIRST CONTACT
play a relatively small role in young people’s lives. WITH NEWS IN THE MORNING BY AGE – SELECTED MARKETS
50% 18-24 25-34 35+
Here, we make a distinction between Generation Y (Gen Y) – often
called millennials and represented in our sample by those aged
45
25–34 – and Generation Z (Gen Z), those born after the mid-1990s
and aged 18–24.24 The reason for this separation is that Gen Z are 39
often thought of as digital natives with no memories of the pre-
internet age. Gen Y, on the other hand, grew up at the turn of the
millennium in a world without Facebook and YouTube. 30
25%
Throughout this section we will combine our survey data with
22
detailed qualitative data collected from young people in the UK
19 18 19
and the US. This study, conducted by market research agency
Flamingo, was based on tracking the news behaviour of a strategic 13
12 11
sample of 20 participants over two weeks in January/February
8 9
2019, followed by in-depth interviews with them and their friends.
The sample was made up of young people with different news 5 4 4
habits, from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. 0%
Smartphone Desktop Print Radio TV
Q9c_new2016. What is the FIRST way you typically come across news in the morning? Base:
PRIMACY OF THE SMARTPHONE 18-24/25-34/35+: selected countries = 1863/3019/15247. Note: Data from US, UK, France, Italy, Spain,
Ireland, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Japan.
Data from both the survey and the qualitative research emphasise
what we have known for some time – that young people are highly
reliant on their phones. Our digital tracking in the US and UK shows
that Gen Z and Gen Y spend a large part of their waking hours
interacting with smartphones.
While there is no agreement on the year of birth that separates the two generations, we used 1995, which is the most commonly used.
24
The data on first contact with news from a question asked in ten countries: US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Japan.
25

Reuters
/ FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 44
PROPORTION THAT USES EACH DURING FIRST CONTACT WITH NEWS IN THE MORNING VIA SMARTPHONE BY AGE –
SELECTED MARKETS
75% 18-24 25-34 35+
YOUNGER OLDER
57
50%
43
39
33
29 28 29
25%
23
19
12 13
9 3 8 9 8
6 1 7 7
5
0%
Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram Aggregators Alerts Direct
(incl. messaging apps)
Slide 45
Q9d_2016_rc5. You mentioned that your FIRST contact with news in the morning is using internet via smartphone, in which ONE of the following places do you typically find your first news? Base:
18-24/25-34/35+: selected countries = 842/1195/2982. Note: Data from US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Japan.
FOUR
We canTYPICAL
also lookKEY NEWS
in more MOMENTS
depth at whereFOR YOUNGER
people go whenGROUPSthey FOUR TYPICAL KEY NEWS MOMENTS FOR YOUNGER GROUPS
first pick up their smartphones for news. While those over 35
DIRECT DIRECT
are likely to first go directly to a news site via an app or the
mobile browser (39%), Gen Z are more likely to turn to social
media and messaging apps (57%). In other words, news brands
are less important for this group than for over 35s. Gen Y are
DEDICATED DEDICATED
somewhere in the middle,
Finding timewith 43%
to focus getting
on the news,their newsorvia
like a novel social
a TV series Finding time to focus on the news, like a novel or a TV series
media and messaging apps and
Less common; suits33% directly.
evenings Facebook is equally
or weekends Less common; suits evenings or weekends
popular as a firstMindset:
destination with both groups,
more introspective; deepeningandunderstanding
Instagram Mindset: more introspective; deepening understanding
has become more popular in the last few years as a first

destination. Interestingly, Twitter is twice as popular with Gen Z UPDATED
Getting the key news updates you need efficiently
users comparedUPDATED
to Gen Y users. Direct traffic is relatively more
Suits mornings; preparing for the day
important in theGetting
UK thanthe in
keythe
news updates
US, partlyyoudueneed
to efficiently
the prominence
Mindset: more something I feel I need to do
of publishers likeSuits
BBCmornings;
and thepreparing
Guardian.for the day
Mindset: more something I feel I need to do
TIME-FILLER
Insights from the in-depth interviews in the UK and the US reveal Not about the news per se; something to do while doing
similar patterns among young people: something else
TIME-FILLER Constant: on the train, break, when time to fill
“The first thing
NotIabout
would do would
the news be checktosocial
per se; something do whilemedia,
doing Mindset: more something I do to distract/amuse
something else
see if there’s anything on Facebook.”
Constant: on the train, break, when time to fill
Courtney, GenMindset:
Z, US more something I do to distract/amuse INTERCEPTED
A notification or message intercepts what was being done
“In the morning, I’ll go to the BBC app. I will literally click Can happen anytime and anywhere
on it, and I will go, ‘Right, okay, what’s happening?’”
INTERCEPTED
Mindset: passive recipient
Chloe, Gen Y, AUK

notification or message intercepts what was being done
Can happen anytime and anywhere
Mindset: passive recipient INDIRECT
MOMENTS OF CONSUMPTION
Social media, as one example, are important for keeping young
Our qualitative research, which relied on tracking data and
INDIRECTwith a group of 20 participants, identified four key people updated and for filling time, but are not an appropriate
interviews
place for dedicated news consumption:
moments of news consumption for young people: (i) dedicated
moments where they give time to news (usually on evenings and “It’s kind of like being somewhere and seeing
weekends), (ii) a moment of update (usually in the mornings), something in a far-off distance and being like ‘oh,
(iii) time fillers (commuting or in a queue), and (iv) intercepted what’s going on over there?’ and you go and see it on
moments where they receive alerts from news organisations or Twitter and then you let them take you somewhere …”
messages from friends with news. Of course, not all young people Alex, 31-35, UK
use all four moments, but most did use some combination of these.
56 / 57
Young news users also rely on news aggregators like Apple News, Our survey data suggest that most young people (and in particular
Flipboard, and Upday, particularly when they use news in ‘time those in INSTITUTE
REUTERS Gen Z), spent a lotSTUDY
FOR THE moreOF
time on Instagram
JOURNALISM this ANALYSIS
/ FURTHER year
filler’ moments or want to get a quick update about what is
happening during intercepted moments (e.g. via a news alert).
Slide 47
compared to last. On the other hand, there was a decrease in time
spent with Snapchat – something that might worry publishers
Aggregators are increasingly prominent on smartphones, where who have invested heavily in the Discover news platform.
headline lists can be accessed by swiping left or right from the
smartphone homescreen on many handsets. According to the
NET DIFFERENCE IN TIME SPENT WITH EACH SOCIAL
interview findings, aggregators have two distinct audiences. NETWORK IN LAST YEAR BY UNDER 35s – ALL MARKETS
Among engaged young users they are used to curate the news
they want and exploit the diversity of sources. For more passive
news users, using an aggregator is an easy way to browse around +1
series of headlines.
+24
“If I’m somewhere where I don’t really have time to read
a news story, I do rely on headlines. The fact that I have
+25
access so that I can look at it in two seconds, because
I’m not really supposed to be on my phone at work but if
-1
I can just pull it out, click one button to get to the Apple
News story and the answer is right there for me.”
+22
Maggie, Gen Z, US
For Gen Z, and to a lesser extent Gen Y, the key appeal of these -19
services is convenience. Both groups enjoy multitasking, and
they want media to fit the device and networks where they
Q12C_2019. You say you use the following social networks for any purpose, in the last 12
spend their time. months, has the amount of time you spend using them changed? Base: Under 35s that used
each social network in the last week: Facebook = 15,267, YouTube = 15,838, WhatsApp = 11,448,
Instagram = 11,725, Snapchat = 4674, Twitter = 5249. Note: Showing difference between proportion
that said ‘more time’ and proportion who said ‘less time’.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THEIR
PREFERENCES AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA
However, while many publishers think of Instagram as ‘the
Looking in more depth at the role of social media networks, we
platform’ to reach younger groups, young people themselves
find significant differences between the groups, and also changes
often do not see it as the right environment for news:
over time. Facebook is used slightly more by Gen Y (52%), while
Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are used significantly more by “I don’t think I would follow them [news
Gen Z news users than millennials or by users over 35. organisations] on Instagram. … When I go
on Instagram my mindset is ‘I’m going to get
“[Facebook is] ancient. Like, a mum’s thing.
information but it’s more related to entertainment.’”
I don’t really use it anymore.”
Richard, Gen Y, UK
Ellie, Gen Z, UK
Once again, understanding the expectations of different audiences
We can also consider the amount of time that people spend
and the ‘moments’ they are in will be critical for engagement with
on these platforms, and how it’s changing.
particular platforms.
Slide 46
PROPORTION THAT USED EACH SOCIAL NETWORK FOR NEWS IN THE LAST WEEK – ALL MARKETS
50% 52 18-24 25-34 35+

48
45
32
29
25% 26
24
20 19
18 17
16
13 13 12 12
9 10
8 2
5
0%
Facebook YouTube WhatsApp FB Messenger Twitter Instagram Snapchat
Q12B. Which, if any, of the following have you used for finding, reading, watching, sharing, or discussing news in the last week? Base: 18-24/25-34/35+: All markets = 8272/13361/54116.

IDENTIFYING WITH NEWS BRANDS TONE, AGENDA, AND FORMATS

What is the role of traditional news brands in this distributed In our interviews, young people were often frustrated by the
ecology? Insights from our digital tracking of news users’ mobile negativity of the news agenda, about sensationalism and about
consumption reiterate that news brands play a very small role in the perceived agenda of the mainstream media. Sometimes they
young people’s lives. Most smartphone time was taken up by social feel that the views and concerns of their generation – such as
network apps, internet browsers, podcasts, mail, and movie/music climate change and minority rights – are not properly represented.
streaming devices – followed by dating apps, maps, and transport But equally they do not want traditional media to go away, dumb
applications. Young people have a very low threshold for apps that down, or radically change their style just to appeal to them. For
don’t provide a great experience, while they value services that are instance, young people expressed dissatisfaction with the tone
relevant and useful at all times. No news app was within the top 25 used by automated news bots built by traditional news brands:
apps used by all the respondents in the study, whereas Instagram
was the application found on almost all phones with the highest - I don’t need the news to be my friend.
use in terms of daily minutes used. - No. (×2)
- It doesn’t need to tell me ‘Hey, you know what’s
This does not mean that traditional brands are not valued by
happening in India right now?’ It can just be like,
young consumers. Most do have an ‘anchor news brand’ that they
‘Hey, this is what’s happening in India.’
will turn to when a major story breaks and needs verifying – in our
qualitative research study this was typically the BBC or Guardian - Yes, exactly.
in the UK, and CNN or the New York Times in the US. The choice of Chloe, Victoria, Monica, Gen Y friendship
Slide 48
this brand is often heavily influenced by early parental influence group interview, UK
but the format is almost always digital.
On the other hand, they also expressed strong interest in news
formats that were more visual and easier to consume than an
800-word article. Some said the lack of context or background
HOW YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND TIME ON
THEIR SMARTPHONES AND ROLE OF NEWS was often
REUTERS a problem
INSTITUTE FORtoo,
THE so visual
STUDY explainers /–FURTHER
OF JOURNALISM like those
ANALYSIS
Aggregated view across 20 respondents Slide 49

pioneered by Vox – tested well; as did other kinds of visual
and mobile storytelling including graphical storytelling from
Number of separate phones Ordered by the average amount
publishers like the Guardian and the BBC.
we found this app in: of minutes per day spent on app.
20 18 20
Instagram is THE PRIMARY 20 14 17

app found on almost ALL
phones and when found
commanded the most 14 14 10
daily minutes. SOURCE: BBC AND GUARDIAN
20 14 19
Podcasts were strikingly popular with our young respondents, but

Social Media the appeal of online news video was more mixed. Younger groups
No news app (with the Web Surfing
exception of Reddit) was Communication
are more likely to use online video than older generations, with
within the top 25 apps used by Entertainment around 15% of 18–24s saying they prefer using it to text. Again,
respondents. When present, Miscellaneous we find that Instagram is playing a central role in popularising
they made a comparatively News
small amount of daily usage. news video. However, it should be noted even among Gen Z, the
majority (58%) prefers text over video because of the control
11 2 1 and flexibility that text still offers. Video is not the way to engage
young people, rather it is one of many formats that can engage.
1 2 2
These are just examples of the kind
of apps found in these participants’
phones. This is not a reflection of
1 4 1 apps that will be found in each
phone, but the kind of apps that
are relevant to this audience.
58
REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS / 59
Slide 50
PROPORTION THAT PREFERS TEXT OVER VIDEO BY AGE –

ALL MARKETS
Up from 8%
in 2016
18-24 58 17 15 10
25-34 64 15 11 10
35+ 70 11 8 10
Mostly Text Text and Video Mostly Video Don’t Know
OPTQ11D. In thinking about your online news habits, which of the following statements applies
best to you? Base: 18-24/25-34/35+: All markets = 3642/5878/28770
IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLISHERS

Overall, we find differences between Gen Z and Gen Y as well
as significant overlaps. Both groups have fully embraced digital
media – albeit in slightly different ways, with Gen Y carrying
a certain nostalgia for the physicality of older forms of media,
and Gen Z apparently having little time for media that does not
display well on a smartphone or does not meet their exacting
requirement for relevance forged by Facebook, Netflix, and
Spotify. Both groups understand the importance of traditional
news brands, but tend to be less loyal than their parents –
preferring to pick-and-mix from multiple outlets.
The increased reliance on social media and other algorithmically

driven services – which we have documented for several years –
highlights that these generations do not want to work hard for
their news. This year’s qualitative study shows that they want
news access to be easy, and entertaining – but they also want it to
be authentic, fair, and meaningful. They certainly don’t want it to
be dumbed down.
None of this makes it easy for publishers to define strategies that

will keep these groups happy at the same time as satisfying more
traditional audiences with stronger allegiances and patterns. To
some extent new formats like podcasts and explainers may help
bridge the divide but it seems unlikely that younger users will
ever be persuaded to pursue a monogamous relationship with the
news or to abandon their platform-based habits. All this suggests
that working to identify ways to reach and monetise audiences
on third-party platforms will become an increasingly important
focus for industry.
A full report on the findings of the qualitative study in the UK

and US will be published in September 2019 (in conjunction
with Flamingo Research).

2.6 Podcasts: Who, Why, What,

and Where?
Nic Newman
Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute
for
REUTERS INSTITUTE FORthe Study
THE STUDY of Journalism
OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
Slide 52
In the Executive
PROPORTION Summary
THAT USED weIN
A PODCAST saw
THEhow
LAST podcast
MONTH – PROPORTION THAT USED A PODCAST IN THE LAST MONTH –
USA AND SWEDEN BY AGE
consumption is growing in a number of countries
USA
and how
REUTERS monetisation
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDYmodels
OF JOURNALISM are /emerging.
FURTHER ANALYSIS
Young more likely to consume
Podcast listeners by age – USA
Slide 53Proportion
In this section we explore the demographics
of each age group listening monthly in 75%
more detail, as well as the most popular types

Young more likely to consume
of
75%podcast, the preferred locations for podcast
50% 54 53
use, and some
PROPORTION THATofUSED
the EACH
motivations
DEVICE TOfor listening
LISTEN TO 41
PODCASTS –UK
to these episodic audio experiences. 25% 30
50% 54 53 19
41 0%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
MOST PODCAST LISTENERS ARE YOUNG
25% 30
The most striking aspect
Smartphone of podcast consumption
Laptop Tablet is the appeal
Desktopto Sweden
19
55%
younger 27%and the United
people. In Sweden 26% 18%
States, two countries Young more likely to consume
75%
that
0%
have embraced podcasts, we find that over half of under 35s
have used a podcast monthly
18-24 25-34 compared
35-44 with less than a fifth55+
45-54
of over 55s. 50% 59 57
Podcast listeners by age – Sweden
By contrast, these older of
Proportion listeners
each age are
group twice as likely
listening monthly to consume 43
38
Smart speaker Stereo system MP3 Smart wearable
traditional radio news as the young, many of whom do not even 25%
8% 8% 6% 4%
own a radio. This is the plugged-in Young more likelysmartphone
to consumegeneration and it’s
75% 16
no surprise that the majority of usage is through these connected
Which, if any, of the following device(s) do you use to listen to podcasts? Source: UK YouGov
0%
devices,
Profiles, manyrepresentative
nationally of which come pre-installed
sample, March with podcast apps and
2019. Base = 921. 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
now come equipped with high fidelity wireless headphones. In
59 57 takes place via smartphone, a figure that Q11F_2018. A podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files, which you can download,
the
50%UK, 55% of listening
subscribe, or listen to. Which of the following types of podcast have you listened to in the last
rises to 62% for under 35s. month? Base: 18-24/25-34/45-54: USA = 177/380/320/246/889, Sweden = 132/335/323/343/874.
43
38
25%
PROPORTION THAT USED EACH DEVICE TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS – UK

16
0%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Q11F_2018. A podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files, which you can download,
subscribe, or listen to. Which of the following types of podcast have you listened to in the last
month? Base: 18-24/25-34/45-54: USA = 177/380/320/246/889, Sweden = 132/335/323/343/874.
Smartphone Laptop Tablet Desktop Smart speaker Stereo system MP3 Smart wearable
55% 27% 26% 18% 8% 8% 6% 4%
Which, if any, of the following device(s) do you use to listen to podcasts? Source: UK YouGov Profiles, nationally representative sample, March 2019. Base = 921.
60 52 / 61
At home REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER ANALYSIS
61
17
Slide 55
At work
15
Public transport 30
WHERE DO
(bus, trainPEOPLE
etc.) LISTEN
20 TO PODCASTS? PROPORTION THAT USED A PODCAST VIA PRIVATE/PUBLIC
TRANSPORT IN THE LAST MONTH – SELECTED MARKETS
The majority of podcast usage is24
Private transport at home (58%), commuting on
(e.g. car) 50%
public transport (24%) or via18 private transport such as the car or Car etc. (private transport) Bus, train etc. (public transport)
bike (20%). Around
Exercise
a fifth (18%)
20 listen when out and about
generally (goingetc.)
(gym, running for a walk 12 to the shops), with a similar
or
proportion
REUTERS (16%) listening
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDYwhenOF taking exercise.
JOURNALISM A further
/ FURTHER 16%
ANALYSIS
Slide 54
Out and
finds about
the time or opportunity to23
generally
(park, shops etc.)
Younger groups are slightly
listen to podcasts at work.
13more likely to listen on the move, 25% 28
30
26
23
whereas over 45s are 0%twice as likely 25%to listen in the
50%home. 75% 21
50% 18
16 16
PROPORTION THAT USED A PODCAST IN EACH LOCATION

BY AGE – SELECTED MARKETS 0%
US UK France Denmark
52 30
At home 25% 28
Q11F_podcast_location.
61 In what circumstances do you tend to consume podcasts regularly? 26Base:
23USA = 667, UK = 379, France = 475, Denmark = 487.
Those that consumed a podcast in the last month:
17 21
At work 18
15 16 16
Public transport 30 WHY PODCASTS?
(bus, train etc.) 20
0%
Private transport 24 Across all ourUScountries, theUK
main reasons France
for listening toDenmark
podcasts
(e.g. car) 18 are to keep updated about topics of personal interest (46%) and to
Exercise 20 learn something new (39%). Other motivations include to fill
(gym, running etc.) 12 empty time (25%) and as a change from music (22%). But these
40%
23 U35
Out and about generally reasons do not play out equally across age groups. Older listeners
(park, shops etc.) 13 35+
are more interested in keeping updated whereas the young are
30
0% 25% 50% 75% looking28for podcasts that entertain them or fill empty time. 26
20% 23
21
Looking specifically 18
PROPORTION 16THATat the UK
USED we also 16
A PODCAST can
VIAsee important
PRIVATE/PUBLIC
PODCAST MOMENTS: WHAT RESPONDENTS SAY differences between the younger age groups: 18–24s – which we
TRANSPORT IN THE LAST MONTH – SELECTED MARKETS
IN BED TAKING A BREAK have previously referred to as Gen Z – are less likely to be
40%
0% Car
looking to etc. (private
learn orFOR
beTHEtransport) andBus,
updated, more train etc. (public
likely to be transport)
looking for
‘On my tablet last thing at ‘Home while having my REUTERS US
INSTITUTE UK
STUDY France
OF JOURNALISM / FURTHER Denmark
ANALYSIS
night or first thing in the
morning on waking’
coffee in the morning ‘
‘In my lunchbreak’ Slide 56
entertainment or a change from music; 25–34s, or Gen Y, are
also looking
28 to be entertained, but want to fill empty time with
30
26
OUT AND ABOUT CHORES content
20% that is educational and 23 keeps them updated.
21
‘Walking the dog’ ‘When I’m doing 18
16 16
‘On a walk with my son the laundry’
asleep in the buggy’ ‘When I’m cooking’ MAIN REASONS FOR LISTENING TO PODCASTS BY AGE – UK
0%
75% US UK France Denmark
Q11F_podcast_location. In what circumstances do you tend to consume podcasts regularly? Base: 18-24 25-34 35+
Under 35s/Over 35s that consumed a podcast in the last month: selected markets = 4678/4375 Note:
This question was asked in US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Q11F_podcast_location. In what circumstances do you tend to consume podcasts regularly? Base:
Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Canada. Those that consumed a podcast in the last month: USA = 667, UK = 379, France = 475, Denmark = 487.
57
50% 51 52 54 54
51
44
COMMUTING TIME 37
36
32
The average length of podcasts – typically between 20 and 40 25% 29 29 27
minutes – is partly influenced by the time taken on the average 20 21
commute. This is particularly true for the news industry where
the Guardian’s Daily News podcast Today in Focus gets much of its 0%
Fill empty As a change Be Learn To keep
listening during the morning rush hour. Post Reports from the time from music entertained something updated
Washington Post is released in time for the evening commute.
Americans are much more likely to listen in the car, according to Q11F_podcast_reason. Which, if any, of the following are reasons why you listen to podcasts?
our data, where they spend more time generally, while Europeans Base: 18-24/25-34/45+ that listened to a podcast in the last month: UK = 53/101/160.
are more likely to listen when using public transport. One

exception is Denmark where listening to podcasts or music on a
bicycle has become a part of daily routines for many.

Slide 57
Further insights on motivation came from our in-depth PROPORTION THAT USED EACH PODCAST GENRE IN THE LAST
interviews with young people, supporting this year’s research. MONTH – ALL MARKETS
The first relates to the convenience. Podcasts are great for
multitasking but they also don’t require complex interfaces:
Any podcast 36
“I think it’s a bit more passive … You’re able to multitask.
Like, I can cook and listen to a podcast, for example …” News, politics etc 15
Sam, 25–30, US
Lifestyle
In this sense podcasts bring information to listeners in a way that (fashion, food arts)
15
is effortless, but the linear nature is a welcome break from the
usual distractions of digital media. On the other hand, they Specialist (tech,
business, health etc)
14
maintain the element of control and choice that is second nature
to millennials and digital natives, but that traditional radio lacks:
True crime, society 12
“[With] radio you can’t control what shows are on,
whereas podcasts you can.” Sports 9
Mark, 31–35, US
0% 20% 40%
Then there is the content itself, which young people feel is often Male
more diverse, more entertaining, and less stuffy than traditional Female
radio. The characters and hosts often bring a more informal

Q11F_2018. A podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files, which you can download,
style and they tell stories in a more natural and less affected way. subscribe, or listen to. Which of the following types of podcast have you listened to in the
last month? Base: Total sample = 75,749.
40%
“[Podcasts are] more of an outsider source of news or
opinion, so you have a diverse range of news ideas 36
and thoughts from vastly different people; not your For publishers many questions remain, not least the overlap with
traditional people who look and act a certain way.” traditional news, the influence of platforms, and the questions of
monetisation. The platform picture is changing fast with Spotify
Chloe, 31–35, UK 20%
and Google joining Apple in a race for the best content. Business
models are still emerging
15 but the
15 evidence in this chapter about
14
the underlying drivers of this change suggest we are12a long way
WHAT PODCASTS? 9
from reaching ‘peak podcast’.
Given the insights above, it is worth noting that politics and 0%
news (15%) is just one part of the content universe. Other Any podcast News, Lifestyle (fashion,
Specialist (tech,
True crime, societySports
politics etc food arts) business,
popular genres include lifestyle content (15%), true crime (12%),
health etc)
specialist interest (14%), and sports (9%). But many podcasts
defy classification with news often discussed in new ways
through comedy and celebrity. Young people are listening to
podcasts that entertain and inform. This is why many daily
podcasts like The Daily from the New York Times use narrative
storytelling techniques pioneered in true crime formats such as
Serial to add suspense and jeopardy, to keep listeners hooked.
Vice and others are applying these techniques to blockbuster
documentaries (e.g. Chapo, Kingpin on Trial).
In this chapter we have seen how podcasts carry many of the same
benefits as radio – such as multitasking and ease of use – but they
have characteristics of their own which are enhancing audio
storytelling and engaging new groups. Q11F_podcast_location. In what circumstances do you tend to consume podcasts regularly? Base:
Those that consumed a podcast in the last month: USA = 667, UK = 379, France = 475, Denmark = 487.
In the home, the flexibility and control offered by podcasts is

supplementing and in some cases replacing traditional radio, but
podcasting is also taking audio to new locations where there is no
easy access to radio. Audio rich smartphones enable audio to
compete with newspapers, apps, and websites on public transport
for the first time and it makes routine tasks like walking the dog or
exercising in the gym less boring and more productive.
Critically, podcasts are bringing fresh voices and production

techniques to a medium that has changed little in a generation.
Low barriers to entry, combined with high levels of creativity, are
shaking the foundations of the radio industry.
62 / 63

64 / 65
Section 3
Analysis by Country
In this section we publish a country-based view of the findings, which includes an overview of media
characteristics and the most important data points in terms of digital news.
These include an overview of consumption in each country, Europe Americas

including details of the most popular news brands – traditional
3.01 United Kingdom 68 3.25 United States 118
and online. The pages also contain statistics about the use of
new devices such as smartphones and tablets and the role of 3.02 Austria 70 3.26 Argentina 120
different social networks for news. Information is drawn from 3.03 Belgium 72 3.27 Brazil 122
the 2019 Digital News Report survey using the methodology
outlined on p.6, with the exception of population and internet 3.04 Bulgaria 74 3.28 Canada 124
levels which are drawn from Internet World Statistics (2018). 3.05 Croatia 76 3.29 Chile 126
Where appropriate, our country-based authors have also
3.06 Czech Republic 78 3.30 Mexico 128
referenced industry-based statistics that supplement our
survey-based approach. 3.07 Denmark 80 Asia Pacific
3.08 Finland 82 3.31 Australia 132
Whilst most of our countries see internet penetration of 80%
or more, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey in particular 3.09 France 84 3.32 Hong Kong 134
have far lower levels of access. In those countries we are
3.10 Germany 86 3.33 Japan 136
looking at the habits of around half the adult population. It
should also be noted that in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Greece, 3.11 Greece 88 3.34 Malaysia 138
Mexico, South Africa and Turkey our samples tend to be based 3.12 Hungary 90 3.35 Singapore 140
more around urban areas.
3.13 Ireland 92 3.36 South Korea 142
Many international comparisons will still be relevant in terms
3.14 Italy 94 3.37 Taiwan 144
of understanding differences in the online sphere, but anyone
interpreting these results should be careful not to suggest 3.15 Netherlands 96 Africa
these figures represent the total adult population, especially 3.16 Norway 98 3.38 South Africa 148
when considering offline versus online consumption.
3.17 Poland 100
The full questionnaire, additional charts, and tables, 3.18 Portugal 102
plus the raw data, are available from our website
www.digitalnewsreport.org. 3.19 Romania 104
3.20 Slovakia 106
We have ordered the countries by geography (Europe,
Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa) and within each region 3.21 Spain 108
countries are then ordered alphabetically – with the exception 3.22 Sweden 110
of UK at the start of the Europe section and the United States
at the start of the Americas: 3.23 Switzerland 112
3.24 Turkey 114

66 / 67
Section 3 Europe
3.01 United Kingdom 68
Analysis by Country
3.02 Austria 70
3.03 Belgium 72
3.04 Bulgaria 74
3.05 Croatia 76
Europe
3.06 Czech Republic 78
3.07 Denmark 80
3.08 Finland 82
3.09 France 84
3.10 Germany 86
3.11 Greece 88
3.12 Hungary 90
3.13 Ireland 92
3.14 Italy 94
3.15 Netherlands 96
3.16 Norway 98
3.17 Poland 100
3.18 Portugal 102
3.19 Romania 104
3.20 Slovakia 106
3.21 Spain 108
3.22 Sweden 110
3.23 Switzerland 112
3.24 Turkey 114

UNITED KINGDOM STATISTICS

Population
Internet penetration
67m
95%
The UK’s prolonged and tortuous

exit from the European Union
has dominated the news agenda
over the last year, generating
widespread Brexit fatigue.
Meanwhile politicians have been
flexing their muscles over the
regulation of big tech platforms,
the role of the BBC, and the need
to sustain quality journalism.
More than a third (35%) say they often BuzzFeed. But it is the local and regional father told the media that he holds the
or sometimes avoid the news in the UK sector that has been hit hardest with social media giant partly responsible for
and the majority of these cite Brexit as the net closure of 245 local news titles her death. By this time next year, the UK
the main reason. Avoiders say coverage in the last 13 years according to Press could have among the most stringent
negatively affects their mood or they feel Gazette research. One of the UK’s largest regulation of online platforms in the world,
powerless to affect events. Partly as a publishers, debt-laden Johnston Press, even as critics warn about the potential
result, and with the exception of television collapsed in November 2018, though most implications for free speech.
(+5pp), there has been no Brexit bounce titles continue under a new company
for the media, with online usage flat and owned by its creditors (JPI media). The BBC also faces new scrutiny from both
newspapers on the slide. politicians and commercial rivals. Its online
Against this background, a government- news site came under fire from commercial
Popular newspaper brands have suffered appointed review, headed by Dame rivals for publishing too much ‘soft
double digit falls in print circulation with Frances Cairncross, argued that local news’ and for an obsession with younger
the Daily Star (-18%), Daily Mirror (-13%), news coverage could disappear unless audiences. It has been accused of wasting
and Daily Express (-12%) hardest hit.26 These the government provides direct financial millions on promoting a new podcast-filled
titles are now owned by Reach plc, which support. Her report, published in February app (BBC Sounds) and neglecting its core
has merged some editorial operations to 2019, recommended the introduction of speech radio channel (Radio 4). Meanwhile
cut costs by over £10m. a range of different direct and indirect licence fee income is being squeezed by
public subsidies to support high-quality lack of interest from the Netflix generation
Broadsheet titles have also suffered
journalism and that Google and Facebook’s and a government plan to give free TV
significant year on year declines in print
approach to news should be scrutinised by licences to the over 75s.
but are pinning their hopes on new online
a new regulator.
revenue. The Financial Times hit its target Further pressure comes from calls
of a million paying subscribers a year ahead Further pressure on the platforms to increase BBC funding for the local
of schedule, while The Times and Sunday came with a highly critical report by a democracy reporting scheme, which has
Times have around half a million paying parliamentary committee of MPs that supported more than 130 new jobs in
customers with the majority now digital- had been looking into disinformation. commercial newsrooms, and delivered
only. And after years of making substantial The committee accused Facebook of more than 50,000 stories in its first year.
losses, the Guardian announced a small purposefully obstructing its inquiry and
operating profit for 2018-19. More than a failing to tackle attempts by Russia to More publishers are getting involved in
million people worldwide have contributed manipulate elections. audio. The Guardian, The Economist, and
to the Guardian in the last three years, the FT have launched or rebranded daily
with 650,000 currently paying to support And in April the government announced news podcasts in the last year. The BBC
the publication on an ongoing basis27. A its plans to fine or block tech platforms is investing heavily in smart speakers
new ‘slow news’ venture, Tortoise News, if they fail to tackle ‘online harms’ such and AI while the Guardian has set up an
launched in April with 2,500 members – as terrorist propaganda, child abuse, experimental Voice Lab.
40% of its early backers are under 30. and other distressing material. The issue
captured public attention with the case Nic Newman
By contrast, advertising-supported media of 14-year-old Molly Russell who took Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
has been affected by widespread job cuts her own life after looking at posts about
including around a dozen at digital-born suicide on her Instagram account. Molly’s
26
ABC figures Feb. 2018—Feb. 2019 via Press Gazette.
27
BBC News:’Guardian records first operating profit since 1998’, www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48111464
68 / 69
WEEKLY REACH OFFLINE TV, RADIO AND PRINT ONLINE

AND ONLINE BBC News (TV & Radio) 68 BBC News online 50
11
ITV News 36 Mail online 16

6
TOP BRANDS Sky News 26 Guardian online 15
7
% Weekly usage Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday 15 Sky News online 14
4
The Sun/Sun on Sunday 15 HuffPost 11

7
Weekly use
A regional or local newspaper 12 Sun online 9
4
TV, radio & print
Daily Mirror/Sunday Mirror/Sunday People 11 Mirror online 9
4
More than 3 days per week
TV, radio & print Metro 11 Local newspaper website 9
5
Weekly use C4 News 10 MSN News 8

4
online brands Commercial radio news 9 BuzzFeed News 8
6
More than 3 days per week The Times/Sunday Times 8 Telegraph online 7
3
online brands
The Daily Telegraph/Sunday Telegraph 6 Times online 7
4
Guardian/Observer 6 Metro online 4 6 ALSO

Breitbart 2%
London Evening Standard 4 ITV News online 3 6
Westmonster 2%
The Express/Sunday Express 4 Independent/ i100 online 3 6
The Canary 2%
‘i’ 3 The Lad Bible 3 6
Another Angry Voice 2%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
100% Online (incl. social media)
TV news reach has100% started
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
Online (incl. social media)
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
to decline but a key 74%
59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
parliamentary Brexit 50%
50% vote
59%
59% 40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media
50% 100% 40%
36% 100%
during our survey period
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media Online (incl. social media) Tablet
20% 79% 36%
showed how people still20% turn
20% 74% 75% TV Smartp
20% 71% 67%
to the medium at times0%
0% of 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
59%
2018 2019 Print 63% Comput
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
crisis. In terms of online
0% 2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015
50%2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2019 50%Social media 49%
40%
news, the British are 36%
29% 29%
becoming increasingly 20%
16%
dependent on smartphones.
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in the news has fallen DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
over 11 percentage points since THIS BRAND
2015. Even the most trusted BBC News 6.85

News overall 7.15
brands like the BBC are seen News I use
40% (-2)
ITV News 6.82 7.23
by many as pushing or
suppressing agendas –
=21st/38
51% Financial Times
Channel 4 News
6.68
6.66
7.63
7.27
especially over polarising Regional or local newspaper 6.4 6.84
issues like Brexit and climate The Times 6.39 7.3
change. Broadcasters have Sky News 6.34 6.86

The Guardian 6.21 7.12
higher levels of trust than
News in search News in social Independent/i100 6.05 6.98
tabloids or digital-born brands.
22% 10% Daily Telegraph
HuffPost
Daily Mirror 4.89
5.36
6 6.85
5.96
6.41
Daily Mail/MailOnline 4.78 5.82
The Canary*
PAY
4.72 -
Buzzfeed News 4.69 5.76
9%
The Sun 3.92 5.73
* No figure for users of the Canary (did not meet 50 minimum threshold)
pay for
ONLINE NEWS TOP SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING
27%
Rank Brand For News For All
1 Facebook 28% (+1) 67%

SHARE NEWS
2 Twitter 14% (-) 28%
via social, messaging or email
21%
3 YouTube 10% (+2) 52%
19%
4 WhatsApp 9% (+4) 50%
listen to
5 Facebook Messenger 6% (+3) 46%
PODCASTS in
the last month COMMENT ON NEWS
6 Instagram 4% (+3) 29%
via social or website

AUSTRIA STATISTICS
Population
8.8m
88%
Austria’s conservative and right-

wing government has been on a
collision course with independent
journalism as it attempts to
control the agenda – and reform
public service media. In a
polarised political atmosphere,
the public’s trust in the media
continues to decline.
Although Austria continues to have the

highest use of printed newspapers in our
by ORF journalists as ‘insubordinate’. The Moreover, in November 2018, 49% of the
report, subscriptions and sales steadily
ORF has issued new rules for the use of shares of WAZ Ausland Holding GmbH,
decline every year. In 2018, the most
social media, with staff asked to avoid the company that owns half of the Krone
affected brands were Der Standard and
comments that could be interpreted as group and of Kurier, were sold by Funke
Kurier, as they experienced a circulation
taking a political position of any kind. Mediengruppe to SIGNA Holding GmbH.
decline of over 5% compared to the
The latter is a property of René Benko, an
previous year. As a consequence of lower
More generally, unsubtle attempts by the Austrian real estate investor, which now
sales, one of the leading press distribution
governing parties to shape public discourse owns just under a quarter of the largest and
companies, Morawa, closed its business.
led to a warning by the Austrian Press third largest daily newspapers in Austria.
Bucking general trends, the regional
Council directed to all domestic editors
newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten saw the Innovations by news organisations in
advising them to consider information
amount of copies sold grow by almost 4%. 2018 include a new, monthly print edition
from government agencies only after
detailed research and review. One example focused on special themes by the non-
The data collected for the Digital News
of the government’s approach came in profit, digital-born Addendum (controlled
Report show some unexpected trends: first,
an email sent by the spokesperson of the by Red Bull’s owner Dietrich Mateschitz)
the proportion for respondents extremely
Interior Ministry led by Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) and a regular magazine by the digital native
or very interested in news declined to 64%
to police departments, that was eventually Dossier, which raised the resources for the
from 69% in the previous year. Second,
leaked to the press. The email suggested project through crowdfunding. Finally, the
usage of the public service media ORF
limiting sharing information with critical entire editorial staff of the digital-born
dropped via both broadcast and online.
media – and focusing on information about Vice Austria, formerly composed of eight
Third, trust in news media declined by 2pp
crime committed by foreigners. professionals, resigned after it became
after a decrease of 4pp last year. These
known that the Austrian edition would
trends are indicative of a difficult time for
The gloomy news media environment be managed from Germany. According
quality news media in Austria, currently
of 2018 was partially brightened by a to Editor-in-Chief of Vice Germany Laura
in dispute with the governing coalition,
promising increase in the share of users Himmelreich, Vice Austria will not be
the Austrian People’s party (ÖVP) and the
paying for digital news. Our survey downsized, but more resources will be
Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).
suggests many of those paying come from invested in video production.
Early in the year, the government started younger demographics while other data
show that some regional papers have Sergio Sparviero and Josef Trappel
a review of the media landscape, aimed
increased digital subscribers, albeit from University of Salzburg
at shaping new policies. By the end of
a low base. With the collaboration of Stefan Gadringer,
2018, two priorities had emerged. First, a
Roland Holzinger, and Isabella Nening
plan to counter the negative effects of the
As use of smartphones to access
global tech platforms on the local news
news continues to increase, Austrian
markets and second, a desire to reshape
news organisations find more positive
the role of the public service media.
responses to their efforts to drive digital
The far-right Freedom Party has been
revenue. These efforts include a variety
particularly critical of the ORF, arguing
of methods: fees for removing advertising
for the abolition of the mandatory licence
(Der Standard), combined digital-print
fee that finances the public service media.
subscriptions (Tiroler Tageszeitung),
The party was successful in getting one
access to premium digital services, which
of its party representatives elected as the
also include special offers to students
chairperson of the ORF governing body; he
(Salzburger Nachrichten), and metered
controversially labelled critical interviews
paywall (Die Tagespresse).
70 / 71

AND ONLINE ORF News (public broadcaster) 76
16 ORF News online 34
11
Kronen Zeitung 14
37 Kronen Zeitung online 8
25
TOP BRANDS ZDF News 12
24 GMX News 7
17
% Weekly usage Puls 4 News 11
21 Der Standard online 5
13
Heute 11
20 Heute online 6
12
Weekly use
ServusTV News 10
19 meinbezirk.at/woche.at/bezirksrundschau.at 7
11
TV, radio & print
RTL News 10
19 Kurier online 6
11
TV, radio & print ARD News 9
19 Kleine Zeitung online 4
10
Weekly use Österreich 10

18 oe24.at (e.g. österreich.at, sport.oe24.at, buzz.oe24.at) 5
10
online brands Bezirksblätter 14
18 KroneHit News online 6
9
More than 3 days per week ATV News 10
16 heute.de (ZDF Germany) 4
8
online brands
Kleine Zeitung 5
14 tagesschau.de (ARD Germany) 4
8 ALSO
KroneHit 7
14 Die Presse online 4
8 Unzensuriert 4%
Kontrast 3%
Kurier 6
12 OÖ Nachrichten 3
7
Contra Magazin 2%
Der Standard 6
11 MSN News 3
7
Info Direkt 2%
oe24 TV 6
10 puls4.com News 4
7 Alles Roger? 2%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
79%
Austrians have traditionally
100%
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
read more newspapers and 74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
59% 71% Print
magazines than any50% other
50%
59%
59% 40%
Social media
Print
Social media
50% 100% 40%
36% Social media 100%
country in our survey, but
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media Social media Tablet
20% 78% 36%
this is beginning to change.
20%
20% 71%
75% Online (incl. social media) Smartp
20% 70% 67%
Online media now outstrips
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 70%2018
2017 2019 Printed newspapers 64% Comput
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 56%
both print and TV with0%
the 2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015
50%2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2019 50%TV 52%
45% 41%
smartphone (64%) overtaking 38%
the computer (52%) to 18% 20%
become the most important
device for accessing 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
online news. NB: 2018 figures for computer use were likely overstated
due to an error in polling
TRUST
Despite conflicts with DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
government leaders, the THIS BRAND
public service media ORF News overall ORF News 6.67 6.95
39% (-2)
remains the most trusted News I use Die Presse 6.53 7.5
news service in Austria.
Following the ORF are the
=25th/38
53% ZDF News
Der Standard
6.47
6.42
7.09
7.44
German public service media Servus TV News 6.27 7.3
ZDF, liberal, quality national Bezirksblätter 6.16 6.74

Kurier 5.98
newspapers, and regional and 6.75
Kleine Zeitung 5.93 6.89
local news media. The most
News in search News in social Puls 4 5.89 6.75
sold newspaper Kronen Zeitung
is only ranked 12th in this list of
the most trusted news media.
26% 18% NEWS
RTL News
Kronen Zeitung
5.72
5.48
5.31
6.38
6.43
6.21
oe24 TV 5.21 5.6
Heute 5.01 5.71
PAY GMX 4.98 5.76
9%
pay for
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING
ONLINE NEWS
33%
1 Facebook 31% (+1) 60%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 23% (+4) 72%
32%
3 YouTube 23% (+4) 63%
18%
4 Instagram 8% (+4) 28%
listen to
5 Facebook Messenger 6% (-) 32%
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 4% (-) 11%

BELGIUM STATISTICS
Population
11m
94.4%
Belgium has two distinct media

markets – one French-speaking,
the other Flemish. In these small
markets, publishers continue to
integrate their operations and
focus more on digital platforms,
though many still struggle to find
sustainable revenue models.
After a round of mergers and acquisitions

reshuffling the Belgian media landscape,
2018 saw Belgium’s newly structured
news publishers and media companies landscape, continue to struggle to generate De Standaard expanding its offering from
work behind the scenes to integrate advertising or subscription revenues. After two to five weekly podcasts and Rossel and
their operations. These changes are adding a membership paywall, Charlie IPM collaborating though a Google DNI
most evident in Antwerp, with the Mag, a Dutch-language online magazine, grant on Askinfo, a common platform aimed
construction of News City, a new home for is setting up a crowdsourcing initiative, the at distributing written articles in an audio
the publisher De Persgroep and its newly success of which will determine the future format, specifically through smart speakers.
acquired broadcast partner Medialaan. of the outlet. On the French-speaking side,
This development brings together the long-form print magazine 24h01 closed Although examples of disinformation are
newsrooms of commercial broadcaster in March 2019. Investigative outlets such rare in Belgium, the issue has featured on
VTM, the most popular newspaper/website as Apache and Médor are still operating, the political agenda. In early 2018, Federal
in Flanders, Het Laatste Nieuws, news but their viability remains fragile. One Minister for Digital Agenda Alexander
brands De Morgen and Humo, and a range bright spot is the federal government’s De Croo put in place an expert group on
of showbiz magazines. In a similar move, announcement that the 0% VAT rate that disinformation. As a result, a fund for
the publisher Mediahuis is centralising its has been applicable to print newspapers fact-checking initiatives was promised
activities, also in Antwerp, while moving and magazines for decades will soon be but postponed after the government fell.
the newsroom of De Standaard to Brussels. extended to digital news publications. In Flanders the Minister of Media set up a
There will be around 80 job losses as a Flemish Journalism Fund of €500,000 to
result, including 19 in newsrooms. Readership for news brands has remained stimulate innovative journalistic projects
stable over the past four years, in terms – again two fact-checking initiatives were
Meanwhile the French-language market of combined print/digital reach. But as among the beneficiaries. While these are
remains equally pressured. A restructuring the survey’s data show, print is still losing welcome, there is a risk that government
at Les Editions de l’Avenir has led to much ground year after year, with television also subsidies will be scattered across various
commotion – two days of strikes followed now seeing a slight decline. This resonates funds and programmes, diluting their
the sacking of four journalists and rumours with the findings of the Digimeter survey, overall impact.
of a list of 30 journalists who were which suggests that daily live television
allegedly disposable put the issue on the viewership in Flanders was just 48% Ensuring a sustainable and diverse mix
agenda of the Walloon government. in 2018, down from 60% in 2015.28 of quality journalism remains a key
This change raises concerns for overall political concern. To this end, the Flemish
Consolidation in the media sector advertising revenues, which will also Parliament approved a resolution in
continues to raise concerns about have a knock-on in terms of budgets for March 2018 reaffirming its ambition to
pluralism and media freedom. In its 2018 news. A study commissioned by Flemish develop a forward-looking and media-
report, the Flemish Media Regulator Minister of Media Sven Gatz, suggesting agnostic way of supporting independent
pointed out that traditional media broadcasters, distributors, and media quality journalism.
products are now in the hands of only five producers collaborate on a ‘Flemish
groups (including the public broadcaster), Ike Picone
Netflix’, was welcomed with mixed
down from nine a few years ago. In Vrije Universiteit, Brussels
feelings by many stakeholders.
Wallonia, three large publishers control the
six remaining print titles. This is especially In terms of new initiatives, 2018 seems
worrying as digital first initiatives, which to have been the year publishing brands
contribute to a more diverse news decided to catch up on audio, with
www.digimeter.be
28
72 / 73
WEEKLY REACH OFFLINE TV, RADIO AND PRINT (FLEMISH) ONLINE (FLEMISH)
AND ONLINE 76
16 53
11
VRT News (public broadcaster) Het Laatste News online
VTM 11
43 Het Nieuwsblad online 10
35
TOP BRANDS Het Laatste Nieuws 12
36 VRT News online 9
27
% Weekly usage Het Nieuwsblad 9
26 VTM News online 10
24
Qmusic 7
15 De Standaard online 5
14
Weekly use
TV, radio & print Nostalgie 5
11 Gazet van Antwerpen online 4
12
More than 3 days per week Het Belang van Limburg 3

10 De Morgen online 5
11
TV, radio & print Joe FM 4

10 VRT News De Tijd online 3
9
Een 45%
Weekly use Gazet van Antwerpen 4
9 Canvas 18% Het Belang van Limburg online 3
9
online brands De Standaard 4
9 --------------
MSN News 47
Radio 2 29%
More than 3 days per week Regional or local newspapers 7
9 Radio 1 17% Knack.be (incl. trends.knack.be, 47
online brands MNM 16% kanaalz.knack.be)
Metro 6
9 Studio Brussel 13% Newsmonkey.be 4 5
Klara 3%
TV, RADIO AND PRINT (FRENCH) ONLINE (FRENCH)

RTBF News (Public Broadcaster) 17
71 RTL News online 38
9
PAY RTL 14
52 RTBF News online 12
33
TF1 15
34 DH online 10
24
11%
Bel-RTL 7
23 Le Soir online 10
23
Le Soir 10
20 7sur7 5
21
France Télévisions (France 2, France 3) 8

18 L’Avenir online 7
21
Metro 11
18 MSN News 7
15
pay for 9
15 5
11
Other regional or local newspapers RTBF News Regional news sites
ONLINE NEWS L’Avenir 6
15
La Une 52%
La Deux 16% La Libre 5
11
Flanders 11% La Dernière Heure 8
15 La Trois 5%
Metro 5
9
--------------
Wallonia 11% Radio Contact 5
15 Vivacité 20% L’Echo 3
8
La Premiere 18%
Le Vif/L’Express/Trends 5
9 Classic21 12% Yahoo! News 5
8
Musiq3 2%
100%
100% 79% Online (incl. social media)
79%
74%
79%
74%
SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
79% 75% TV
74%
59%
74% 2016–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2016–19
59% 71% Print
50% 59% Social
Print media
50% 59% 40% Social media
50% 100% 40%
50% 40%
36%
40%
16%
20% 82% 36%
36%
20% 79% Online (incl. social media) Smartp
20% 75%
20% 71% 70%
0% Printed newspapers
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 59% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 58%
50%2016 2017 46% 50%TV
listen to
2013 2014 2015 2018 2019
40%
45% 39% 39%
PODCASTS in
20% 20%
the last month
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
News brands have traditionally enjoyed high levels DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST
of trust in Belgium, especially in Flanders.
Remarkably, this year we see a drop in the score. News overall News I use News in search News in social
49% (-4) 54% 31% 18%

There are recurring instances of both politicians and
citizens adopting a harsher tone towards journalists.
It is telling that the Flemish Association of Journalists =7th/38
has installed a complaints office for journalists who Wallonia 41% Wallonia 47% Wallonia 29% Wallonia 18%
are victim of verbal and physical harassment. Flanders 55% Flanders 59% Flanders 32% Flanders 18%
BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10) BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10) TOP SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING
(FLEMISH) (FRENCH)
ALL THOSE THAT HAVE ALL THOSE THAT ALL THOSE THAT HAVE ALL THOSE THAT Rank Brand For News For All
HEARD OF BRAND USE THIS BRAND HEARD OF BRAND USE THIS BRAND
VRT News 7.37 7.55 RTBF Info 7.07 7.28

1 Facebook 42% (+3) 70%
Radio 1 7.26 7.82 Le Soir 6.93 7.19
De Tijd 7.2 7.78 La Première 6.84 7.48
Radio 2
2 YouTube 17% (+1) 55%
7.17 7.83 France 2* 6.72 –
VTM News 7.12 7.57 Vivacité 6.72 7.46
De Standaard 7.07 7.45 La Libre 6.57 7.1
Het Nieuwsblad 6.9 7.35 TF1 6.53 6.95
Knack.be 6.8 7.21 RTL News 6.53 6.97 4 WhatsApp 10% (+2) 41%
Het Laatste Nieuws 6.74 6.98 Bel-RTL 6.45 7.22
De Morgen 6.69 7.28 L'Avenir 6.44 7.18 5 Instagram 7% (+3) 27%
Gazet van Antwerpen 6.59 7.01 DH 6.23 6.55
Qmusic 6.44 7.1 Radio Contact 6.17 6.89 6 Twitter 4% (-) 10%
Metro 6.31 7.08 7sur7 6.16 6.6
Joe FM 6.31 7.5 Metro 6.01 6.87
Apache.be* 5.46 – MSN News 5.44 6.49
* Some brands do not have trust scores for users of those brands (did not meet minimum 50 threshold or did not specifically
ask about the use of the brand)

BULGARIA STATISTICS
Population
7m
66%
30 years after the fall of

communism Bulgaria remains the
poorest member of the European
Union, with an increasingly
polarised news media. Growing
internet penetration and greater
use of digital media represents
some progress for a country with
a rapidly ageing population.
It’s the extreme polarisation of the media

and the return of control by political
largest opposition party in parliament, it is targeted at active internet users, and
parties which has defined the past 12
Movement for Rights and Freedoms. offers a morning podcast. Podcasts are
months. In the early 1990s, each political
proving to be fashionable, and a growing
party had its own newspaper. Today they
Not only the TV stations but the media in number of publishers and celebrities are
each have their own TV channel. This is
general are also increasingly collecting and producing them.
partly because television remains such an
publishing ‘kompromat’ – compromising
important and influential source of news Newspapers in Bulgaria have come under
material such as video or photographs
in Bulgaria. The links between stations considerable financial pressure in recent
which embarrass political opponents or
and political parties range from shared years, despite pioneering successful ‘hybrid
other public figures. Both the GERB and
business links and interests right through tabloid’ newspapers such as 24 Chasa and
BSP use specific journalists as conduits
to direct ownership. Trud in the 1990s. But low incomes and
for their own brand of kompromat.
competition from the internet have led
The ruling party, GERB, has developed
Anton Todorov, the GERB’s spokesman, to a significant decline in readership and
the biggest network of influence. Evropa,
had to resign after indirectly threatening foreign investors have largely pulled out.
a leading cable TV station, is managed
a journalist on air in 2017. Since then Three daily newspapers have shut down
by Georgi Harizanov, a disgraced former
he has specialised in publishing online over the past four years and economic
public servant who was publicly exposed
‘investigations’ which have all targeted weakness has left Bulgarian media
for lying about his university education and
GERB critics. increasingly reliant on funding from local
has a conviction for racketeering.29 He is
oligarchs or foreign foundations.
also a tennis partner of the Prime Minister, On the other side, the Socialists
Boyko Borisov, and frequently defends have Elena Yoncheva, a former war The Capital weekly magazine remains the
government policies. correspondent who is known for her only Bulgarian publication which charges
reports from the Near East and North users for its online content. Investigative
Nova TV, a national private broadcaster
Africa conflicts. Her investigation into site Bivol.bg invites users to support it with
which is currently the most trusted brand
the government’s failure to build an donations. Payment for online news (7%)
in our survey, is set to be acquired by one
effective wall on the border with Turkey is amongst the lowest in our survey.
of the most influential and notorious
was prevented from being broadcast on
Bulgarian oligarchs, Kiril Domuschiev. The Internet penetration has risen in the
the grounds of national security. Her more
businessman is a vocal supporter of the last few years and a wide range of social
recent work accused a deputy minister
prime minister and his party, and frequently platforms continue to gain in popularity,
of corruption but the State Prosecution
attacks its opponents. It was only the barring from Facebook (85%) to Viber (60%), a
declined to indict the politician, claiming
of the previous bidder by the competition commonly used messaging platform in
the evidence was insufficient.31
regulator which gave Domuschiev the this part of Europe. These are significant
opportunity to buy Nova TV. 30 It is unclear whether the party TV developments in a country whose
channels have affected trust in the news population is ageing the fifth most
The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party
– up 2 percentage points on last year – quickly in the world.
engages in similar practices. It launched
but they have certainly increased the
its own channel, BSTV, which offers Stefan Antonov
number of pundits and strongly expressed
content of interest to the party and old Business journalist, (the Bulgarian)
views on air. And in line with the ‘back to
movies from communist times. The Economist, and former
the past’ trend, just recently Radio Free
nationalist parties which are GERB’s Reuters Institute Journalist Fellow
Europe reopened its Bulgarian section.
coalition partners have two television
Employing a small number of journalists,
stations, and Kanal 3 is close to the second
29
www.24chasa.bg/novini/article/4052053
30
www.novinite.com/articles/195306/Bulgarian+Businessman+Kiril+Domuschiev+Buys+Nova+Broadcasting+Group
31
www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2019/04/12/3418591_prokuratura_ne_nameri_dokazatelstva_sreshtu_ministur/
74 / 75

AND ONLINE NovaTV News 74
11 ABV News online 47
10
BTV News 10
71 NovaTV News online 9
47
TOP BRANDS BNT News (Bulgarian National Television) 13
52 BTV News online 9
44
% Weekly usage 24 Chasa 21
32 novini.bg 16
37
Bulgaria On Air 11
25 24 Chasa online 17
31
Weekly use
TV Evropa News 9
23 dir.bg 12
29
TV, radio & print
Telegraf 11
18 BNT (Bulgarian National Television) 7
26
TV, radio & print BNR News (Bulgarian National Radio) 6
18 Blitz.bg 10
22
Weekly use A regional or local newspaper 11

18 Dnevnik online 12
20
online brands Trud 11
16 Petel.bg 10
18
More than 3 days per week Kanal 3 News 7
16 Bivol.bg 11
18
online brands
Darik (Radio) 7
15 Trud online 8
13
Capital 7
10 Capital (Capital.bg) 8
13
Sega 4
7 Regional/local newspaper website 9
13
Maritza 3 6 BNR (Bulgarian National Radio) 4

12
Bloomberg TV News (Bulgarian) 3 6 Pik.bg 6

12
SOURCES OF NEWS DEVICES FOR NEWS
TV Online (including social media) Computer Smartphone
83% (-1) 88% (-) 74% (-4) 72% (+5)

Print Social Media Tablet
23% (-) 71% (-1) 19% (-2)

TRUST
Many news organisations in
Bulgaria have become reliant DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
on funding from oligarchs or THIS BRAND
foreign foundations. This in News overall Bulgarian National Television 7.35 7.81
News I use
40% (+2)
turn has reduced independence
43%
Bulgarian National Radio 7.33 8.18
and trust, with the media Nova TV News 7.15 7.49
increasingly becoming =21st/38 BTV News 7 7.41
something of a battlefield 24 Chasa 6.33 7.14
between Russia and the West. Trud 6.12 7.1

Dnevnik 6.08 6.75
Public broadcaster Bulgarian
Bivol.bg 5.89 7.71
National Television (BNT) is News in search News in social
34% 31%
Sega 5.71 6.97
less popular in terms of reach
Offnews.bg 5.59 6.49
than commercial rivals, Blitz.bg 5.18 5.8
but remains the most trusted Pik.bg 4.6 5.19
for news in our survey.
PAY -
7%
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
52%
1 Facebook 74% (+1) 85%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 34% (+2) 71%
56%
41%
4 Viber 16% (+2) 60%
listen to
5 Instagram 10% (+5) 26%
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 6% (-) 13%

CROATIA STATISTICS
Population
4.2m
91%
The Croatian media market

is characterised by strong
commercial television providers,
a print sector trying to adapt to
the digital ecology, and a vibrant
mix of traditional and alternative
online websites. It has recently
been marked by threats to
journalistic independence in the
public and third sector media.
The negative trend in regard to media government cut the support to third 50–60% of the audience market, includes
independence started in 2016 soon sector media awarded by the previous the tabloid daily 24 sata and Večernji
after the election of the HDZ governing social-democratic government. This list. Hanza media, which owns popular
coalition. Particularly troublesome is is also interpreted as a move against daily Jutarnji list and the regional daily
the editorial policy of the HTV (Croatian media pluralism, as non-profit media are Slobodna Dalmacija has some 30–40%
television, the public service broadcaster) predominantly progressive. A government share of daily newspapers and 40–50%
with its pro-government and new Christian media strategy has been promised for in the magazines market.34 According to
conservative bias (pro-government bias some time but its unveiling has been the Croatian association of advertising
was generally not present from 2000 to constantly postponed. Strong action agencies, total advertising revenues
2016). Public outrage was caused when was announced against misinformation (€196.4m) decreased slightly in 2017, the
legal action was brought by the public and hate speech on the internet, but latest year for which we have data, though
broadcaster against its own journalists who no proposals were presented amidst internet advertising increased by 14.5%.35
were publicly critical of its non-pluralistic anxieties that censorship might be
editorial policies. introduced unwittingly. Public broadcaster HRT is funded by
advertising and a licence fee. It faces
In March a few thousand journalists and While there have been no significant stiff competition from private networks,
citizens marched in Zagreb in support changes in the ownership of national-level including leading national station Nova
of media freedom and journalistic media, it was recently revealed that Viktor TV. HTV has kept its third place as source
independence after the Croatian Journalist Orbán’s favourite media baron, a member of offline news, but TV reach is down 3%
Association (HND) highlighted 1,160 law- of the government-promoted Central from last year, while its radio branch HR
suits that had been taken out by politicians European Press and Media Foundation slipped by 2%. HTV’s two commercial
and public figures against journalists in the KESMA which now controls much of the rivals retained their positions – Nova TV
course of their work. The Association has media in Hungary, is interested in buying is at 59%, the top source of news offline
demanded that the government work to a local television in Zagreb (Z1). Media and online in Croatia, and the television
stop this practice, seen by the journalists as companies from KESMA acquired parts branch of the Croatian RTL is in second
harassment, and guarantee the autonomy of the Slovenian and Macedonian media place, one point down from 2018 (58%).
of editorial and journalistic work from in 2016 and 2017, and supported far-right N1, the 24-hour news channel, has also
media owners.32 The Croatian Journalist candidates and parties in the election maintained its share and rank.
Association was awarded the Miko Tripalo campaigns. Any similar move in Croatia
Democracy Prize for their contribution to would be viewed with great concern in The growth of podcasts is a new
democracy in Croatia in 2018 by the Centre the light of upcoming presidential and development with around a third (37%)
for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo, a parliamentary elections for 2019 and accessing at least once a month – with
progressive think-tank. 2020, respectively.33 more than one in ten using podcasts
relating to news and information.
Government is also criticised for not Print circulation continued to fall by
distributing the funding for the non- 10% in 2017 across the board, with the Zrinjka Peruško
profit media sector earmarked several two main press companies maintaining Centre for Media and Communication
years ago by the EU Social fund. The 2016 their relative shares. Styria, with some Research, University of Zagreb
32
Osam zahtjeva protiv cenzure, 1 Mar. 2019. www.hnd.hr/osam-zahtjeva-protiv-cenzure1
33
Berislav Jelinić, Orbanova medijska hobotnica preuzima Z1, 19 Feb. 2019. No. 1087, pp. 8–12, www.nacional.hr/orbanova-medijska-hobotnica-preuzima-z1/
34
Agencija za zaštitu tržišnog natjecanja, www.aztn.hr/24-sata-prvi-na-trzistu-prodaje-jutarnji-list-na-trzistu-oglasavanja-u-dnevnim-novinama-a-7dnevno-i-
medimurjenajprodavaniji-o
35
hura.hr/istrazivanja/medijska-potrosnja-u-hr
76 / 77

AND ONLINE NovaTV News 59
16 24sata online 57
17
RTL News 15
58 Index.hr 20
56
TOP BRANDS HTV & HR News (public broadcaster) 16
57 Jutarnji online 16
46
% Weekly usage 24sata 18
37 Net.hr 19
43
Jutarnji list 15
29 Dnevnik.hr 20
36
Weekly use
Otvoreni radio 8
21 Tportal.hr 18
35
TV, radio & print
Večernji list 10
19 Večernji online 14
34
TV, radio & print Narodni radio 7
16 HRT news online (public broadcaster) 13
20
Weekly use Local radio news 6

18
online brands N1 5
12 Dnevno.hr 11
18
More than 3 days per week Antena radio 5
12 Telegram.hr 9
16
online brands
Slobodna Dalmacija 5
11 Slobodna Dalmacija online 6
16
Regional or local newspaper 8

11 Direktno.hr 8
13
Local television news 6

10 Novilist.hr 5
10
Al-Jazeera 5
8 Local radio news online 6
10
Novi list 4
7 N1 online 3 6
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Internet penetration100%
in 79%
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
Croatia is now over 90% 74%and
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
this growing connectedness
50%
50% 59% is
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media
50% 40%
36% 100%
Social media
also reflected in smartphone
50% 91% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
89% Tablet
20% 36%
use – 76% use the device20% for 79% 78% Online (incl. social media) Smartp
20%
72% 76%
20%
68%
news weekly. Croatians0%
0% also2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 66%
Printed newspapers Comput
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 56%2019
2018 55%
love their social networks
0% 2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
2018 2019
2018 2019 50% TV
43% 39%
with Facebook, YouTube,
WhatsApp, and Viber most
17% 17%
regularly used for news.
0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in the media remains
stable with the ranking of
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
media brands similar to last ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
year. The most trusted news
sources are two commercial News overall NovaTV 6.86 7.29
News I use
40% (+1) 41%

RTL 6.62 7.06
TV stations (both foreign
Otvoreni radio 6.32 7.11
owned), alongside two main
daily newspapers and the =21st/38 Jutarnji list 6 6.4
HR News (public radio) 5.99 6.65
public service radio. The Večernji 5.99 6.51
tabloid 24sata has a lower HTV News (public television) 5.86 6.51
trust score along with the Tportal.hr 5.81 6.47
more politically inclined News in search News in social Net.hr 5.71
31% 30%
6.18
portals – Dnevno.hr on the index.hr 5.6 6.27
right, and Index.hr on the left. 24sata 5.59 6.15

Dnevno.hr 5.37 6.34
PAY
6%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
40%
1 Facebook 56% (-1) 75%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 28% (-) 77%
37%
3 WhatsApp 14% (+3) 56%
25%
4 Viber 13% (+1) 59%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Instagram 10% (+4) 34%

CZECH REPUBLIC STATISTICS

Population
10.6m
88%
The Czech media market has

experienced further ownership
concentration with control
shifting towards domestic
tycoons, who have been also
expanding abroad. Czech digital
platforms are stepping up original
content production, while
concerns about the political
independence of public service
media are growing.
when the French company Lagardère sold series, and talk shows – the Czech retailer
Under favourable economic conditions its assets – the nationwide commercial clearly takes inspiration from Amazon. It
(GDP +3.0%), the Czech media market stations Frekvence 1 and Evropa 2, and is attempting to compete with the leading
has continued to grow in 2018, with several other local stations – to Czech Czech online portal Seznam.cz which has
advertising expenditures rising by 10%. Media Invest, controlled by one of the been involved in TV content production
As in 2017, online adverts recorded the richest Czech businessmen Daniel for several years already with its online
biggest annual growth (23%), attracting for Křetínský. The transaction involved service Stream.cz and, since last year,
the first time more expenditure than print Lagardère’s radio stations in other Central terrestrial SeznamTV. The growing interest
and radio combined, and amounting to and Eastern European countries, as well as of Czech audiences in new forms of online
25% of the advertising market altogether. its many French magazines, including the consumption is also seen in the rising
Nevertheless, the dominant position of TV popular brand Elle. Křetínský’s expansion popularity of podcasts, spearheaded by
is still far from being challenged (46%).36 in the French market continued with the independent producers but also involving
purchase of the news weekly Marianne and some established brands such as Czech
There has been a further drop in the a minority stake in the legacy newspaper Radio and Forbes.
circulation of daily press, as publishers Le Monde, which sparked concerns about
sold on average 7% fewer copies than the impact on editorial autonomy among The increasing politicisation and more
last year, an indication that the relative French journalists. Together with the explicit partisanship of the Czech
slowdown of the decline between 2016 acquisition of leading telecom operators in news media have been reflected in the
and 2017 (-5.5%) was only a temporary Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro intensification of struggles for political
one.37 The decline was driven particularly by the Czech investment group PPF, owned independence of the public service
by print subscriptions (-11%), and was by another billionaire Petr Kellner, these broadcasters. These have been targets
observed across all individual titles, investments symbolise rising power as well of regular criticism and attacks by
with the exception of the financial daily as appetite of the Czech business tycoons the governing party as well as by the
Hospodářské noviny. The market shares of to extend their media empires beyond President.39 Despite the rising political
the five leading publishers – with the first national borders. hostility, public service broadcasting as
three controlling 85% of the daily press an institution can still rely on substantial
market – remained virtually unchanged. Amid the overall pessimism in the print support from the Czech public. This was
Nevertheless, a further concentration market, there was a sign of hope in the seen several times during 2018 when
of the print market took place following launching of a new liberal daily at the end people took to the streets to protest
the withdrawal of Bauer Media, which of 2018. Deník N was established following against attempts to curb the independence
was purchased by Mafra, a publishing a crowdsourcing campaign, and benefited of Czech Television and Czech Radio. Both
house once controlled by the Czech Prime from close cooperation with its Slovak broadcasters also – yet again – top the list
Minister Andrej Babiš.38 Apart from Mafra counterpart Denník N. Having started as an of news brands in their perceived trust by
becoming the number one publisher, this online daily, Deník N added a print version Czech audiences.
move has marked the near-completion from the beginning of 2019, emboldened
of the process of print media takeover by by an increasing subscriber base. Václav Štětka
domestic businessmen – a notable change Loughborough University
from several years ago when foreign The fast-growing online TV market
investors dominated the market. has been further expanded with the
emergence of Mall.tv, established by the
A shift in favour of domestic ownership second biggest Czech internet retailer
occurred within the radio market, too, Mall.cz. Offering original content – films,
36
www.spir.cz/28-6-miliard-korun-investovali-zadavatele-do-internetove-reklamy-v-roce-2018-vice-nez-polovina
37
www.mediaguru.cz/clanky/2019/02/prodej-deniku-loni-ovlivnil-i-problem-s-predplatnym
38
www.reuters.com/article/czech-media/czech-pms-former-firm-buys-bauer-media-groups-local-publisher-idUSL8N1WP4AX
39
www.tol.org/client/article/27653-the-battle-for-czech-public-media.html
78 / 79

AND ONLINE Czech Television News (incl. 1, CT24) 56
12 Seznam.cz/zpravy 38
10
TV Nova News 12
50 iDnes.cz 12
37
TOP BRANDS Prima News 13
43 Novinky.cz 8
30
% Weekly usage Mlada Fronta DNES 9
19 Aktualne.cz 13
29
Blesk 7
16 TN.cz 8
22
Weekly use
16 CT (Česká Televize) News online 10
22
TV, radio & print
Czech Radio News 5
15 iPrima.cz 8
19
TV, radio & print TV Barrandov News 6
15 Blesk.cz 6
16
Weekly use Televize Seznam 5

13 Denik.cz 7
14
online brands Metro 6
13 Super.cz 6
10
More than 3 days per week Radio Impuls News 5
13 Lidovky.cz 4
8
online brands 3
7
Denik 6
10 iHned.cz ALSO
Frekvence 1 News 4
9 Reflex.cz 4
7 Parlamentnilisty.cz 15%
Evropa 2 News 4
9 Tyden.cz 4 6 Prvnizpravy.cz 5%
4 6
Sputnik 3%
Lidove noviny 4
7 Extra.cz
Ac24.cz 3%
Hospodarske noviny 3 6 EuroZpravy.cz 3 5
Aeronet.cz 2%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Smartphones have 100%
continued
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
to rise as the second most74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
59% 71% Print
popular device for accessing
50%
50%
59%
59% 40%
Social media
Print
Social media
50% 100% 40%
91%
news, while the use of tablets
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
85%
Social media Tablet
20% 85% 36% 83%
has further stagnated. 20%20% 77% Online (incl. social media) Smartph
20% 70%
However, the consumption
0%
0% of
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers Comput
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
news on social media0%has 2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
41%
2018
2018
2019
2019 49% 50%TV 51%
declined compared to 2018, 37% 34%

28%
particularly on Facebook (-7%).
16% 14%
0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
NB: 2018 figures for computer use were likely overstated
TRUST
The tendency towards DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
declining trust in news, THIS BRAND
recorded in previous years, has News overall Czech Radio (public broadcaster) 6.58 7.4
News I use
33% (+2)
been stopped and slightly
39%
Czech Television (public broadcaster) 6.51 7.02
reversed, even if the overall iDnes.cz 6.31 6.8
trust figures are still =30th/38 Aktualne.cz 6.16 6.74
comparatively low. Public TV Prima 6.14 6.89
broadcasters remain most Mlada Fronta DNES 6.07 6.53

Novinky.cz 6 6.42
trusted by the public while
Seznam.cz/zpravy 5.97 6.46
tabloids and partisan brands News in search News in social TV Nova 5.52
33% 20%
6.22
are trusted least.
Denik N 5.5 6.08
Parlamentnilisty.cz 5.28 6.57
Blesk 3.55 4.88
PAY
7%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
37%
1 Facebook 50% (-7) 75%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 26% (-) 65%
37%
22%
4 WhatsApp 10% (+3) 32%
listen to
5 Instagram 8% (+4) 23%
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 4% (-1) 9%

DENMARK STATISTICS
Population
5.8m
97%
Denmark’s media are adjusting

to significant changes and
reductions in funding to public
service broadcasting along with
increased subsidies for private
media, both introduced by a right-
wing government.
In a break with traditions of broad

political compromises about media
regulation, in June 2018 Denmark’s
government introduced a controversial
media settlement for the next five years. Dagblad saw increases of just under 10%. of journalists they employ, the social
Denmark has two public broadcasters, DR Politiken’s Sunday edition also increased diversity of their readership, and the
and TV2, and a national and local press readership by 10%. Advertising revenues amount of democratically important
partly supported by state subsidies, and for print newspapers dropped 14% in 2018. political and cultural content they create.
the changes reduce total public funding of Niche nationals receive an average
media by €54m. Since February 2019, the key TV news subsidy of €3.3m; broadsheet and tabloid
providers have been competing head-to- national dailies €2.3m; regional dailies
The specific changes involve a 20% funding head for late-night news viewers, after €1.6m; local dailies €400,000; online
cut for the main public service provider, DR, TV2 Nyhederne moved its 10pm newscast native sites €500,000.
from €508m to €415m in 2023. At the same to 9.30pm. DR so far has kept its audience
time, the press subsidy programme gets share, and before TV2’s announcement It is still proving hard to run sustainable
extra money, which will benefit online and had already decided to move its bulletin news media targeting children and young
local media. A fund that gives private media to 9pm in 2020. adults. Young people have less brand
support for specific public service content loyalty and prefer multiple sources or
is boosted from €4.7m to €13.3m. Finally, The tabloid BT and free daily MetroXpress aggregators with a blend of several brands.
there is a requirement for the new holder were partly merged in April 2018. Online
of the radio franchise FM4 (currently run by newsletter Føljeton has barely reached the In 2018, Berlingske closed its Kids News
Radio 24syv) to move its headquarters at break-even point. Long-read and in-depth (printed weekly, 6–12 years). JP/Politiken
least 110 km from Copenhagen. news digital publisher Zetland still runs a closed Format (online, 20-to-30-year-
substantial deficit. One strategy to counter olds) after just eight months, partly due to
The settlement for DR will reduce staffing these difficulties has been to produce audio disappointing user referrals from Facebook.
by 375 jobs (85 in news), reduce its number versions of articles, a path also taken by Similarly Vice (online, 20-to-30-year-olds)
of TV channels from six to three, and cut the free politics-focused online newspaper launched its youth-oriented online news
radio channels from eight to five. The Altinget, and big mainstream news media magazine in May 2018 only to close it in
contract forbids the production of long like Politiken. February 2019. The market still includes
in-depth text-based news articles online, print weeklies for 9-to-12-year-olds, online
intended as a measure to strengthen private Concerns over the possible growth in news for teenagers, online videos for 20-to-
news organisations’ competitive power. misinformation during the national 30-year-olds, and daily podcasts, some of
Cuts will affect entertainment, sport, and elections has led news magazine Mandag which receive a public subsidy.
imported drama more than news. Morgen to set up a fact-checking unit.
It will collaborate with Facebook about Danes use social media less for news than
Opposition parties say they are prepared intercepting misinformation.40 many other countries. Facebook plateaued
to roll back parts of the government’s in 2019, while Instagram and WhatsApp
legislation if they come to power after Payment for online news has stagnated are relatively new on the Danish media
this year’s general election, saying they at 15% since 2017. All major newspapers scene. DR News, niche financial newspaper
would aim to restore the strength of public use freemium models online, and are Børsen, and born-online, political news-
service media and to curb the influence of struggling to increase payment levels. oriented Altinget have begun to cautiously
international tech giants. In 2018 major newspapers priced online explore morning chatbot newsletters and
subscriptions at around €35 per month, alerts on Facebook Messenger.41
In print, most national and regional the main exception being Berlingske with
newspaper readership continued to drop its €15 offer. Kim Christian Schrøder and Mark Ørsten
by 10% or more on weekdays and 3–15% Roskilde University
on Sundays (industry figures). But niche The state subsidy is given to private
newspapers Information and Kristeligt news media in relation to the number
40
Mediawatch, 27 Sept. 2018.
41
Mediawatch, 13 Aug. 2018.
80 / 81

AND ONLINE DR News incl P1, P3, P4
61
15 DR News online 37
10
(main public broadcaster)
TV2 News 13
57 TV2 News online 7
33
TOP BRANDS Regional news via TV2 (Nord, Fyn, Lorry) 9
27 Ekstra-Bladet online 7
27
% Weekly usage Local free weekly newspaper 14
19 BT online 8
25
Local/regional newspaper 4
11 Politiken online 5
13
Weekly use
BT Metro 4
10 Jyllandsposten online 4
11
TV, radio & print
Commercial radio news 5
10 Local/regional newspaper website 4
10
TV, radio & print Ekstrabladet 4
9 Local weekly website 6
10
Weekly use BT 5
9 Berlingske online 4
9
online brands Radio 24syv 4
8 Avisen online 5
8
More than 3 days per week Politiken 3 6 Altinget online 3
7
online brands
Jyllandsposten 3 6 Radio24syv News online 3 6
Berlingske 2 5 Dagens online 4 6
Søndagsavisen 3 4 Information online 3 5

ALSO
Børsen 2 4 Børsen online 2 5
Den Korte Avis 4%
Fagblade 3 4 MSN News 2 4 Zetland 3%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
In 2019 there is a continued
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS 75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
move away from accessing74%59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
news on computers50% and
50%
50%
tablets
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
36% Social media Tablet
towards smartphones. More
50%
85%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36%
than two-thirds of the Danes
20% 81% 80% Online (incl. social media) Smartp
20%
20% 69%
now use their smartphones
0%
0% to
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 65% Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 57%
access news. 0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 49%
2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019
45%
50%TV 50%
43%
31% 31%
25%
22%
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
News trust levels are slightly DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
up on last year, in contrast to THIS BRAND
many other European News overall DR News 7.68 7.94

News I use
57% (+1)
countries. Public
63%
TV2 News 7.42 7.7
broadcasters DR and TV2 still Børsen 7.31 8.12
carry the most trust with 3rd/38 Berlingske 7.01 7.88
popular tabloid Ekstra Bladet Politiken 6.99 7.91
and extreme-right Den Korte Jyllands Posten 6.97 7.69
Avis trusted least by the Information 6.88 7.87
Danish public. News in search News in social Radio 24syv news 6.47 7.21
26% 15%
Søndagsavisen 6.24 6.09
Avisen.dk 5.87 6.74
BT Metro 5.51 5.7
BT 5.44 6.33
Dagens.dk 5.34 6.41
PAY Ekstra Bladet 4.87 5.82

Denkorteavis 4.64
15%
7.24
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
19%
1 Facebook 36% (+2) 75%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 9% (+3) 53%
24%
12%
4 Instagram 6% (+2) 36%
listen to
5 Twitter 5% (-) 11%
PODCASTS in
6 LinkedIn 5% (+1) 19%

FINLAND STATISTICS
Population
5.5m
94%
The news media environment

in Finland is characterised
by a strong regional press, a
strong public broadcaster (YIe),
one widely read national daily
(Helsingin Sanomat), and two
popular evening tabloids, both
reaching over half of the adult
population. Finnish news media
remain the most trusted in
our survey.
For example, Karjalainen, a regional in legacy media. The most well-known
A small number of publishers dominate newspaper, sells 24-hour access to its site of these is MV-lehti (4% weekly reach),
the news market as both the Finnish to those sending a 95 eurocent SMS. whose founder was recently sentenced
language and small market seem to shield to jail for publishing material which was
national news brands somewhat against The government’s decision to decrease found to be both libellous and racist.
international competition. Finnish news VAT for digital media from 24% to 10% There is an appeal pending. MV-lehti
brands also do well in terms of reach (the same as for subscribed print media) operates now with a new leadership.
because there is still plenty of free online will probably accelerate the change from
content available (especially the evening print to digital and make investing in online Podcasts seem to have gained ground
tabloids and YIe), and a strong Finnish services more attractive for publishers. in Finland over the last year, and many
reading tradition. Despite this, news reach newspaper companies have started
Finland has always tracked as the country podcasts of their own. Sometimes the
in most sources is slowly declining as
with the most trusted news media in initiative has come from individual
entertainment media such as Netflix and
the Digital News Report (59% this year). journalists. Regional newspapers
Spotify compete for people’s time.
This is probably due to the Finns’ general Aamulehti and Satakunnan Kansa started
Newspaper circulations have continued trust in social institutions and the fact podcasts about sports in autumn 2018
to decline, which is a serious problem that the mainstream news media are while Helsingin Sanomat continued
because most of their revenue still comes not politically divided. It seems, though, its political commentary podcast
from print. Finnish newspaper publishers that even in Finland things are slowly Uutisraportti (News Report) that already
have smoothed their print-readers’ changing. Overall trust in the news is now has a quite established position.
way into digital by offering bundled down 9 percentage points from 2015,
subscriptions at a similar price – or just a though trust in ‘news I consume’ dropped The national news agency STT
little higher – as print-only subscriptions. only 2 percentage points. strengthened its position after a period
This strategy has made bundled of economic difficulty. The government
The widening gap between trust in news granted it a €1.5 million subsidy and
subscriptions quite popular in Finland. At
overall and ‘news I consume’ might Sanoma increased its ownership of STT
the same time, they have tightened their
indicate some kind of polarising trend. to 75% by buying Alma Media’s and TS-
online paywalls and tried to sell digital
Social topics from immigration to wolf- Group’s shares. Sanoma also announced
subscriptions. While a few publishers have
hunting have recently led to heated public that Helsingin Sanomat will start using
had some success with this strategy42
debates and accusations of bias against STT’s services again.
– Helsingin Sanomat now has around
established media. In a 2016 survey, 71%
100,000 digital-only subscribers and more
of those supporting the nationalist True Esa Reunanen
than 300,000 overall – less than one-fifth
Finns party said they had ‘lost their trust University of Tampere, Finland
of the adult population (16% last year)
in traditional media’, while among all Finns
overall has paid for online news.
only 38% agreed with that statement.43
The current trend in paywalls is a mixed Another explanation is that the public
model in which people can read a few discussion about fake news has made
stories free while some premium content people more aware of the potential
is only available to subscribers. When unreliability of news – while they still
people come up against a paywall, they broadly trust the mainstream news media.
are often offered a free trial or low-
There is a small nationalist and anti-
cost subscription. There are also some
immigration alternative media scene in
experiments with micropayments.
Finland, which actively engenders distrust
Media Audit Finland circulation data, http://mediaauditfinland.fi/levikit/tilastot

42
vipepister.puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/218550-vihreat-tyytyvaisia-mediaan-perussuomalaiset-pettyneita
43
82 / 83

AND ONLINE Yle news (public broadcaster) 68
15 Ilta-Sanomat online 56
11
MTV3 News 17
55 Iltalehti online 10
54
TOP BRANDS Free city paper 21
31 Yle News online (incl Areena News) 13
35
% Weekly usage Regional newspaper 7
23 Helsingin Sanomat online 8
27
Local newspaper 10
19 MTV news online (incl. Katsomo news) 11
23
Weekly use
Ilta-Sanomat 8
18 Regional newspapers online 6
15
TV, radio & print
Helsingin Sanomat 6
17 Local newspapers online 6
13
TV, radio & print Iltalehti 6
16 Taloussanomat online 8
13
Weekly use News on commercial radio 6

14 Kauppalehti online 6
12
online brands Uusisuomi online 5
9
Suomen Kuvalehti 3 5
More than 3 days per week Talouselämä online 6
9
Kauppalehti 3 5
online brands
Foreign TV news channels 3 5 Free city papers online 5
8
MSN News 4
8 ALSO
HS TV news on Channel 4 4 5
MV-Lehti 4%
BBC News 3 5 Foreign newspapers online 2 5
Nykysuomi 2%
Talouselämä 2 4 Foreign TV news online 3 5
Oikea Media 2%
CNN 3 News on commercial radio online 3 5 Kansalainen 2%
CHANGING MEDIA
The weekly reach of100%all sources
of news is either declining
100%
100% or
79%
79%
74% SOURCES OF NEWS
75% TV
Online (incl. social media) DEVICES FOR NEWS
flat, which may be because 79%
74%
79%
75%
71%
75%
TV
TV
74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2014–19
other media are increasingly
50%
59%
59%
71% Print
Social media
Print
competing for people’s50% time.
50% 100% 40%
36%
40%
Social media
Social media
100%
Social media Tablet
90% 36%
40%
Meanwhile the smartphone 20%is 36% 85%
Online80%
36%
20%
20% 75% (incl. social media) Smartp
rapidly increasing its0% 20% 66% 62%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers Compu
importance. 62% of Finns
0%
0%
now
2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015 2016
2017 2018
53%2018
2017
2019
2019
62%
2013 2014 50%2016
2015 2017 2018 2019 50%TV
use the smartphone for news 40% 39% 41%
39%
weekly, with 43% of Finns 24%
23%
saying it is their main device,
compared with 39% in 2018. 0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Even in Finland, trust in news DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
is slowly declining. This may be THIS BRAND
because of polarising News overall Yle News 7.77 8.14

News I use
59% (-3)
tendencies in this traditionally
70%
Helsingin Sanomat 7.27 7.7
consensual and trustful Kauppalehti 7.25 7.82
society, or because the debate 1st/38 Local newspapers 7.21 7.61
about so called ‘fake news’ has Suomen Kuvalehti 7.19 8.08
undermined trust in news MTV 7.17 7.1
overall. The national Taloussanomat 7.16 7.56
broadcasting company YIe Regional newspapers 7.16 7.79

News in search News in social
28% 18%
Talouselämä 7.15 7.65
retains its position as the most
Maaseudun Tulevaisuus 6.86 7.96
trusted media in Finland. News on commercial 6.53 7.24
radio channels
Uusisuomi 6.46 6.99
Free city newspapers 6.26 6.92
PAY Ilta-Sanomat 6.2 6.58

Iltalehti 6.11 6.5
16%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
27%
1 Facebook 30% (-3) 68%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 14% (-1) 67%
26%
3 WhatsApp 10% (-) 61%
15%
4 Twitter 8% (+1) 16%
listen to
5 Instagram 6% (+2) 37%
PODCASTS in

FRANCE STATISTICS
Population
65m
93%
Recent months have been marked

by a persistent and troubled wave
of protests in France known as
the Yellow Vests movement. On
the ground, journalists have been
insulted and attacked while the
news media itself has suffered the
biggest fall in trust in years.
The Yellow Vests protests, which began in

autumn 2018 and has led to widespread
violence on the streets, show no sign of
running out of steam. The protesters peddling’. Draft French legislation to demands for greater efficiency. In a major
have no identifiable leader, structure, or combat what the government considers restructuring plan they are getting rid of
coherent agenda which has made it hard ‘fake news’ includes provisions to take 2,000 out of 9,600 staff and have a plan
for journalists to tell their story. And yet foreign broadcasters off the air if they to create more programmes that might
the protestors consider the media to attempt to ‘destabilise’ the country.44 attract younger audiences. Meanwhile
be part of the problem – critical of their the French are shifting their allegiances
movement and over-supportive of the In response to the Yellow Vests’ demands, to online video services, with Netflix
government. Reporters have faced verbal President Emmanuel Macron and his reaching 5m subscribers and Orange,
and physical attacks, with a number government have organised the ‘Great one of the biggest telecom providers,
thrown to the ground and even mugged. National Debate’, a chance for citizens to making significant investments in original
French journalists have likened covering input ideas to improve quality of life in programming. One French minister, Gérald
the protests to reporting from a war zone. France. More than 1.9 million contributions Damarnin, has suggested going even
were submitted online and about 10,000 further and abolishing the ‘audio-visual
Despite the violence, the Yellow Vests nationwide discussions were held. fee’, which funds French public media – a
continue to attract public support. tax of €139 per year for those that own a TV.
Many citizens believe the media have Emmanuel Macron has also been on the
sensationalised events and have defensive over the behaviour of his former Another blow to trust came in February
interviewed polarised or extreme security officer. Alexandre Benalla was when a number of senior French journalists
witnesses. As a result, we see a large fall in sacked by the President after Le Monde were suspended or fired for allegedly co-
overall trust in the news to just 24%, one of revealed that he attacked a protestor ordinating online harassment via a private
the lowest in our survey. during May Day demonstrations in Paris. Facebook group. The largely male ‘Ligue
Several months later, the subscription- du Lol’ mocked women, including other
But here’s the paradox: BFM TV, which based investigative publication Mediapart journalists, using pornographic images and
has been broadcasting breaking news and revealed that he’d been unlawfully using jokes about rape. The story was uncovered
information since 2005, is at the same diplomatic passports. by the French daily Libération, many of
time the most criticised channel and one whose journalists were involved, and
of the most popular in France (see data While the French State has been
became something of a MeToo moment.
on opposite page). Reporters working for pushing for a EU-wide tax on the big tech
Many journalists hope the revelations will
BFM TV now use a no-logo microphone companies, many news organisations in
help to clean up decades of sexism and
windscreen so the brand will not be easily France continue to struggle financially. The
out-of-date habits in French newsrooms.
identified and are protected by security French news agency AFP (Agence France-
guards when they report live. Presse), is looking to lose almost 100 staff Meanwhile, podcasts (25%) are still
At L’Express, the weekly newspaper created engaging French listeners, exploring soft
The protests have largely been organised in 1953, 40 journalists are set to leave news angles and gender issues, especially
through social media, including through after unsuccessful attempts to charge for those produced by female journalists.
private and public Facebook Groups. online content. But others are faring better.
Kremlin-funded RT France also helped Le Monde grew digital subscriptions by Alice Antheaume
sustain the movement through extensive 20% to 180,000 following a redesign and Executive Director,
broadcast coverage – supplemented by increasing the number of articles behind Sciences Po Journalism School
unmediated Facebook Lives. Our data its paywall.45
show 3% using RT France online weekly
and even higher usage (7%) from heavy Meanwhile public broadcaster France
social media users. President Macron Télévisions is under mounting pressure,
has described RT as a tool for ‘influence- with falling audiences and government
www.rferl.org/a/france-warns-rt-claims-broadcast-syrian-chemical-weapons-attack-douma/29326822.html
44
www.digiday.com/media/le-monde-site-tweaks-helped-increase-subscriptions-20-percent-2018
45
84 / 85

AND ONLINE TF1 44
13 20 Minutes online 16
8
BFM TV 14
43 Regional or local newspaper website 6
14
TOP BRANDS France Télévisions (public broadcaster) 11
37 Le Monde online 6
13
% Weekly usage M6 News 10
27 France Info (public broadcaster) 5
12
A regional or local newspaper 12

22 Le Figaro online 6
11
Weekly use
LCI 8
18 HuffPost 5
10
TV, radio & print
Public radio news (France Inter etc.) 6
17 BFM TV online 4
10
TV, radio & print Commercial radio news (RTL etc) 6
16 Yahoo! News 4
10
Weekly use 20 Minutes 8

14 MSN News 3
9
online brands CNews 7
14 Mediapart 4
7
More than 3 days per week Le Monde 5
8 TF1 online 3
7
online brands
Le Parisien 4
8 L’Express online 4 6
Le Figaro 5
7 Le Point online 4 6 ALSO
4
7 5 6
RT France online 3%
Ouest France Linternaute.com
Sputnik 3%
France 24 4 6 Brut 3 6
Le Media 2%
La Voix du Nord 3 5 Aufeminin.com 4 6
Agence LCD News 1%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
TV news reach continues to
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
decline even if people still74%
turn
59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
to this medium during50%
50%
50%
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
moments of national crisis. The
50%
84%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36%
Yellow Vests protests have20% also
20%
20% 69%
68%
boosted use of social0%media for
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers 59% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
news (42%) while French
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 46%
2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 50%TV 50% 52%
42%
people are more likely to access
news from a smartphone than 18% 18%
24%
19%
11%
a computer for the first time.
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in news in France is now
the lowest (24%) in Europe
– hit by coverage of the ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
Yellow Vest protests. Trust
Le Monde 6.36
in the 24-hour channel BFM News overall 7.31
News I use
24% (-11)
Le Figaro 5.96 6.82
has fallen from 5.9 to 4.9
(on a ten-point scale) over
the past year and is now the 37th/38
34% Mediapart
L'Express
5.94
5.87
7.44
6.78
Le Point 5.87 6.8
least trusted brand in our list. L'Obs 5.87 6.81
Social media are also blamed France Télévisions News 5.85 6.39
(14% trust score) for Le Parisien 5.85 6.78
spreading conspiracy News in search News in social 20 minutes 5.77 6.68
theories, bias, and
algorithmic filtering. 21% 14% Libération
M6 News
5.75
5.75
6.63
6.38
TF1 News 5.64 6.33
Le HuffPost 5.57 6.61
PAY
Brut 5.24 7.13
BFM TV 4.94 5.77
9%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
30%
1 Facebook 46% (+5) 66%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 24% (+2) 54%
25%
22%
4 Twitter 9% (-) 17%
listen to
5 Instagram 8% (+3) 24%
PODCASTS in
6 WhatsApp 8% (+2) 24%

GERMANY STATISTICS
Population
82m
96%
More Germans have been

adopting the internet for news,
even if television remains the
most widely used source of
news. Historic laws to stamp out
so-called ‘fake news’ and hate
speech on social media are widely
viewed as a success by German
politicians.
The German Network Enforcement

Act, known as NetzDG, controversially
the print and online teams, since one of the recently experimented with a new printed
demanded that social platforms like
supporters of Relotius, Ulrich Fichtner, will political magazine BILD Politics in northern
Facebook and YouTube remove hateful
not now take up the role of editor-in-chief, Germany, built on stories around the
and illegal content within 24 hours or face
as was originally planned. themes of anger, curiosity, and joy.
huge fines. Despite fears that ‘overblocking’
could limit freedom of speech, at a Greatest trust within the news media
Meanwhile the economic outlook for news
political level the law that was introduced in Germany is still attributed to the two
organisations in Germany remains difficult,
at the start of 2018 is widely seen as a main public service news brands (ARD
particularly those from a print background.
success.46 Faster take down of illegal and ZDF). While populist attacks on the
Falling circulation and declining print
content has led many other countries to so-called ‘lying press’ seem to be ebbing
advertising have not been replaced by
consider similar measures. off somewhat (Ziegele et al. 2018), a
digital revenue as only a small minority
(8%) of Germans are currently paying for new discussion has flared up about
Two reports published by Facebook
any online news. content and funding for public service
show that social media users are getting
broadcasting in Germany.
better at identifying offensive and illegal
Partly as a result, growing concentration
material. In the second half year of 2018, A number of federal states are looking at
can be observed (Röper 2018) with
1,048 violating pieces were reported, of providing an indexed level of contribution
newspapers merging (Verlagsgruppe
which 369 were removed. This represents fee to public broadcasters (PSBs), rather
Rhein-Main) and newsrooms combining
a significant increase in the proportion of than setting the level every four years.
(Madsack Media Group and DuMont). A
posts removed, compared with the first While this would involve some cost cutting,
number of publishers have announced
half of the year. In the run-up to European PSBs would get more planning certainty
significant job cuts, and some are
Elections, Facebook has partnered with and better control over their own budget.
considering pulling out of print altogether
the investigative non-profit newsroom,
(Funke Mediengruppe). Others are putting
Correctiv, as a fact-checking partner but Public broadcasters have also come to an
parts of their print portfolio up for sale
also with the German Press Agency (dpa). out-of-court agreement with newspaper
(DuMont). The digital-born sector is also in
trouble, with HuffPost Germany, operated publishers over the extent of their internet
Despite these initiatives, low trust in the activities. PSBs will scale back internet text
news found in social media has fallen to by the Burda media group, closing down at
the end of March. output that competes with newspapers
16%, a decrease of 2 percentage points and magazines. In return they have been
compared to 2018. Overall trust in the given the go-ahead to keep television
In sharp contrast, Axel Springer SE
news has also decreased slightly to 47%, programmes online for an extended period
reported the most successful year in
possibly influenced by revelations that of time and even to launch them before
the company’s history in 2018, with its
a top reporter for Der Spiegel magazine transmission (online first).
digital business accounting for 84% of
had falsified news stories for many years.
its operating profit of €737m. The bulk
Claas Relotius, a journalist with numerous Sascha Hölig and Uwe Hasebrink
of the company’s profits now come from
awards, made up stories and fabricated Leibniz Institute for Media Research
advertising (classifieds) after it sold off
quotes for a range of media outlets I Hans Bredow Institute, Hamburg
most of its print titles. Axel Springer still
that also included Die Zeit, Frankfurter
operates Bild and Die Welt along with the
Allgemeine Sonnntagszeitung, Die Welt,
digital-born Business Insider and the news
and SZ Magazin. For Der Spiegel, in
aggregator Upday. Bild remains Germany’s
particular, this process may have lasting
largest selling newspaper and has more
consequences on the proposed merger of
than 400,000 digital subscribers. It has
www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/netzdg-koalitionspolitiker-sehen-gesetz-gegen-hass-als-erfolg-opposition-bekraeftigt-kritik/23815526.html
46
86 / 87

AND ONLINE ARD News (Tagesschau, Tagesthemen etc) 54
16 Spiegel online 18
8
ZDF News (heute, heute-journal etc) 17

44 t-online 6
15
TOP BRANDS Regional or local newspaper 15
34 Focus online 7
14
% Weekly usage RTL News 10
29 Bild.de 4
13
Public radio news 7

21 Web.de 4
13
Weekly use
n-tv 8
20 ARD News (Tagesschau.de etc) 5
13
TV, radio & print
N24 10
19 Gmx.de 4
12
TV, radio & print Regional TV news 9
17 n-tv.de 5
12
Weekly use Commerical radio news 5

16 Regional or local newspaper websites 5
10
online brands Sat.1 News 7
15 N24.de 4
10
More than 3 days per week Bild/Bild am Sonntag 6
11 Sueddeutsche.de 5
9
online brands
Der Spiegel 6
9 Welt online 5
9
WDR News 4
9 ZEIT online 5
8 ALSO
6
8 4
7
Junge Freiheit 3%
Focus ZDF News (Heute.de etc)
Compact online 3%
ProSieben Newstime 5
8 Stern.de 4
7
PI News 2%
Stern 5
7 HuffPost 3 6
Epoch Times 2%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
most79%
Television is still the100% 79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
widely used source of news 74%in
59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
Germany but its reach 50%
50%
50%
has59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
been steadily declining in
50%
82%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36%
recent years. The internet20% has
71%
Smartp
20% 66% 68%
gained in popularity,0% including
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 63%
2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers 56% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
the use of social media 0%
and 2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2019 50%TV
55%
messaging applications, 34%

34%
though Facebook was used 18%
22% 20%
less for news than in 2018. 10%
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
A fraud scandal shattered the DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
German press in the end of THIS BRAND
2018 as it was revealed that a ARD Tagesschau 6.97

News overall 7.66
Spiegel reporter had News I use
47% (-3)
ZDF heute 6.8 7.57
manipulated reports in
various media outlets. This
12th/38
60% Regional/local newspaper
n-tv
6.72
6.55
7.34
7.08
year’s brand figures show Süddeutsche Zeitung 6.45 6.97
declining trust across a Die ZEIT 6.38 7.05
number of major titles from FAZ 6.28 7.09
Der Spiegel to major public Focus 6.03 6.47

News in search News in social Der Spiegel 6
broadcasters to the tabloid 6.66
newspaper/website Bild.
27% 16% Spiegel online
Stern
5.99
5.84
6.62
6.68
Sat.1 Nachrichten 5.68 6.85
RTL aktuell 5.53 6.87
PAY t-online 5.53 6.31

Bild 3.66 5.2
8%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
22%
1 Facebook 22% (-2) 50%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 19% (+4) 58%
21%
3 WhatsApp 16% (+2) 66%
14%
4 Instagram 6% (+3) 23%
listen to
5 Twitter 5% (-) 12%
PODCASTS in

GREECE STATISTICS
Population
Internet penetration 70%
11m
The media market in Greece

is characterised by online
fragmentation, a changing and
polarised TV market, a print
sector in crisis and one of the
highest uses of social media for
news. Trust in the news remains
one of the lowest in our survey.
The past year saw a number of structural

changes in the broadcasting landscape.
MEGA finally ceased operations, 29 years
after its first broadcast and a few years than 20 national newspapers in Greece, blogs that regularly engage in dangerous
after getting into financial difficulty. including six sports papers. As a point conspiracy theories. The number of news
Open TV, owned by a Greek-Russian of reference, the UK, a country six times brands used can be explained by the very
businessman, Ivan Savvidis, with links to larger than Greece, has half the number high use of social media platforms for
Vladimir Putin, launched this year. It took of national newspapers. The abundance of news in Greece, a behaviour that has been
over from Epsilon TV which is now reduced news sources in Greece can be explained linked to incidental exposure to news
to being a regional broadcaster in the by attempts of some businesspeople sources (Fletcher and Nielsen 2018). More
capital. The Vardinogiannis family, owner to influence the political agenda or to than two-thirds (67%) of Greeks use social
of Star TV, is about to close a deal for 50% gain revenue from state advertising. The media as a source of news, while 20% of
of Alpha’s TV and radio stations, pending government announced in May that it will Greeks online (and 32% of those under
approval from the broadcasting regulator, support local and regional newspapers 35) claim that social media are their main
potentially opening the way to greater with €16m during the next four years. source of news. Apart from Facebook (58%)
collaboration between the two. One TV, The money will be distributed to news and YouTube (36%), Greeks use messaging
a new online broadcaster, is awaiting organisations based on the number of full- applications widely to share and discuss
approval for obtaining the sixth national TV time employees they have, while a similar news. A quarter of the sample (25%) uses
license. It is owned by Evangelos Marinakis support package for national newspapers Messenger for news, while Viber is used for
who has during the past years bought a will follow. news by 17% of Greeks, the highest share in
number of legacy news outlets. all 38 countries of the study.
The online media market in Greece is
The polarised political climate in Greece highly fragmented, with new digital- Antonis Kalogeropoulos
was reflected in the news media landscape born players making up half the list of Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
this year. The main opposition party, most popular websites. Newsbomb.gr
New Democracy, banned its MPs from maintained the top spot for a number of
being interviewed by the public service years with its sensationalist news coverage
broadcaster for five months, citing unfair (34% weekly access). A few legacy players
coverage and pro-government bias. like SKAI (25%) and Proto Thema (18%)
Meanwhile the governing party, Syriza, has have built up a loyal audience online while
boycotted the largest news broadcaster some new outlets have strong connections
SKAI since summer 2018, following their to legacy journalism, being the personal
dissatisfaction with SKAI’s wildfire coverage initiatives of famous journalists or news
in Attica. In December, SKAI suffered a anchors (e.g. Enikos or NewsIt). One
bombing attack at its headquarters from a interesting new digital-born initiative is the
left-wing terrorist organisation. ‘slow news’ Inside Story, which operates
behind a paywall, following the example of
The print market in Greece continues its De Correspondent in the Netherlands.
dramatic decline. The Sunday newspapers
currently in circulation sell a small fraction Greeks report using on average more than
of the 1.1 million papers sold ten years 5 online news sources per week, the second
ago.47 Print editions of most newspapers highest among 38 countries. While this
face tough competition in an environment finding reflects plurality in news selection,
where most content can be found for free in the long-tail list of the most visited
online. Despite this, there are still more websites are a number of news websites or
47
Data from Argos (www.argoscom.gr) and the Athens Daily Newspaper Publishers Association (eihea.gr). It should be noted that a handful of large newspapers have asked to be
excluded from the industry circulation data published from the Argos press distribution agency.
88 / 89

AND ONLINE SKAI News (including Radio) 54
17 Newsbomb.gr 34
16
ANT1 News 19
45 Dikaiologitika.gr 13
30
TOP BRANDS Alpha News 17
44 SKAI online 14
25
% Weekly usage Star News 18
35 News247.gr 13
25
ERT (incl. ERT3) (Public broadcaster) 13

33 In.gr 13
24
Weekly use
Open News 13
27 Newsit.gr 12
22
TV, radio & print
19 mixanitouxronou.gr 12
19
TV, radio & print Real News (print & radio) 10
19 Newsbeast.gr 11
19
Weekly use Kathimerini 11

17 Proto Thema online 9
18
online brands Proto Thema 11
16 CNN Greece online 9
17
More than 3 days per week To Vima 9
12 Kathimerini online 9
17
online brands
Ta Nea 8
11 Zougla.gr 10
17
Efimerida ton Syntakton 6

10 ERT news online 9
17
BBC News 5
10 Iefimerida.gr 9
16
CNN 4
9 Enikos.gr 10
16
Ethnos 6
8 Yahoo! News 5
14
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Smartphones are now used
79%
74%
79%
to SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
access news as often as 74%
59%
74% 2016–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2016–19
59% 71% Print
computers for the first
50% time.
50% 59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
100%
50% 96% 40%
36% Social media
Social media Tablet
Almost all Greeks online get
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media 92%
20% 36%
news via online sources 20%
20% 74%
68%
Online (incl.
72% social media) Smartp
20%
66% 65%
(92%), with social media
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 67% Printed newspapers
65%
Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
(67%) considerably 0%more 2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2019 50%TV 47%
popular for news than in 31%
28% 26%
many other countries. TV 24%
news usage remains steady

0% 0%
while newspaper readership 2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
continues to decline.
TRUST
Only a third trust the news ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
they use themselves, while
News overall Kathimerini 6.13
Greece ranks 36th across 7.25
News I use
27% (+1)
Real News 6.03 6.87
38 countries in overall
trust in news. Decades of
corruption, political and 36th/38
33% Alpha News
Ant1 News
5.99
5.93
6.75
6.69
To Vima 5.84 7.15
business undue influences,
in.gr 5.83 6.63
and their targeting by news247.gr 5.75 6.66
left- and right-wing populist newsit.gr 5.62 6.85
parties have resulted in News in search News in social Efimerida ton Sintakton 5.59 6.98
the media being widely
distrusted by Greeks. 35% 22% Star News
Proto Thema
5.59
5.52
6.44
6.71
SKAI News 5.48 6.62
Newsbomb.gr 5.47 6.32
PAY ERT News 5.25 6.45

Tromaktiko 4.7 6.59
7%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
46%
1 Facebook 58% (-2) 80%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 36% (-) 81%
36%
31%
4 Viber 17% (+3) 54%
listen to
5 Instagram 15% (+5) 42%
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 12% (-1) 24%

HUNGARY STATISTICS
Population
9.7m
89%
Government allies strengthened

their grip on the media market
last year through acquisitions
and mergers, distribution of
state advertising and subsidies,
control over public service media,
and smear campaigns against
critical journalists. Against this
background it is not surprising
that the audience’s trust in news
is very low. Social media networks
are a key source of news. reflected in the structure of the media distribution of state funding: while pro-
market. The aftermath of the elections government media receive much of their
In April 2018, the Prime Minister Orbán led saw the capitulation of former-Orbán- budget from state advertising, critical
right-wing parties (Fidesz-MPP and KDNP) ally-turned-nemesis oligarch Lajos media are struggling for survival.53 Some
to a third consecutive term in government, Simicska. He either closed or sold all his independent outlets are experimenting
with a two-thirds majority in Parliament. assets, including his media companies. with new business models: crowdfunding
Since the election, governmental attacks This resulted in news channel HirTV (memberships and donations) has
against democratic institutions have being taken over by government-friendly been a significant part of the budget of
continued, including the judiciary, academic owners and editors, and in the closure of investigative journalism centres Atlatszo
institutions, NGOs, oppositional parties, the historic daily Magyar Nemzet50, the and Direkt36, and the weekly and online
media outlets, and the European Union weekly Heti Valasz, and Lanchid Radio. As outlet, HVG, for some time. Other media
itself. Government campaigns against a consequence of Simicska’s withdrawal outlets have been following this path,
‘migrants’ and the European Union are from the media market, Hungary’s biggest running crowdfunding and membership
running on various channels (billboards, online news portal, Index, also changed campaigns (Magyar Hang, 444), including
television, and social media) paid for by the its ownership structure, raising further the biggest online portal, Index.
public purse. Reflecting concerns about concerns about its independence and
sustainability. Zoom.hu, a recent addition Hungary has one of the lowest levels of
democratic backsliding, Freedom House
to the online news market, has ceased trust in our entire survey (28%). On the
changed Hungary’s status from free to
operation due to financial problems. one hand, there are ongoing discussions
partly free in their annual report. According
and research into the presence of
to Transparency International, Hungary is
But the most significant change on the misinformation (including Russian
the third most corrupt country in the EU48
Hungarian media market was the creation propaganda) in the Hungarian media
with Prime Minister Orbán’s close friend,
of a new Central European Press and Media market. On the other hand, it is common
Lőrinc Mészáros, becoming the richest
Foundation (CEPMF), merging a total of practice for politicians and pro-government
Hungarian in the course of a few years.49
476 media companies – with donations media to label critical journalists and
Investigations into the wrongdoings of from many of the owners of the biggest outlets as ‘fake-news’. RTL Klub is the most
oligarchs and politicians are conducted by pro-government groups. The affected titles trusted of the brands in our survey, with
independent journalism outlets, but are include the second-most-read tabloid pro-government TV2 least trusted.
rarely followed up by police investigations paper, one of the most visited online news
portals, numerous radio stations and Paywalls are yet to be introduced to
or covered by pro-government media
television channels, and all the regional the Hungarian online market. Other
including the public service broadcaster.
dailies.51 Though the CEPMF raises innovations include content production
Because of the structure and nature
questions of fair competition and people’s in various formats (visualisations, videos,
of the Hungarian media environment,
right to information and pluralism, the etc.), of which podcasts are a success –
significant segments of the audience are
authorities have not investigated this since 32% of respondents have used podcasts in
systematically underserved with critical
the government declared the move to be of the past month according to our survey.
information, while the reach and breadth
of pro-government outlets is extensive. ‘national strategic importance’.52
Eva Bognar
Besides ownership, governmental control Center for Media, Data and Society,
In captured media environments such
over the market is exercised through the Central European University
as Hungary, political power tends to be
48
transparency.hu/en/news/hungary-bringing-up-the-rear-of-the-region-in-transparency-internationals-most-recent-world-corruption-ranking
49
forbes.hu/a-magazin/magyarorszag-50-leggazdagabb-embere-mar-nem-csanyi-az-elso
50
Later in 2019, the pro-government daily, Magyar Idok took on the ‘Magyar Nemzet’ name and brand.
51
english.atlatszo.hu/2018/11/30/data-visualization-this-is-how-the-pro-government-media-empire-owning-476-outlets-was-formed
52
mertek.atlatszo.hu/a-sajtoszabadsag-lapzartaja
53
mertek.atlatszo.hu/state-advertising-2006-2017
90 / 91

AND ONLINE RTL Klub 59
16 index.hu 38
19
TV2 15
38 24.hu 19
36
TOP BRANDS ATV 11
28 origo.hu 18
33
% Weekly usage HírTV 13
23 rtl.hu 11
26
Blikk 16
22 hvg.hu 15
26
Weekly use
MTV (public television) 9
21 444.hu 13
24
TV, radio & print
Duna TV 11
20 tv2.hu 9
22
TV, radio & print HVG 10
15 blikk.hu 13
21
Weekly use Magyar Rádió (public radio news) 6

14 atv.hu 8
19
online brands Regional or local paper 8
12 hirtv.hu 7
12
More than 3 days per week Bors 8
11 168ora.hu 8
11
online brands
Rádió 1 5
11
ECHO TV 5
9 napi.hu 8
11
168 óra 6
8 hirado.hu (public broadcaster) 6
11
Regional or local TV/radio 4

8 borsonline.hu 6
8
Nemzeti Sport 4
7 portfolio.hu 4
7
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Though online channels are
79%
74%
79%
the SOURCES OF NEWS 75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
most significant news source,
74%
59%
74% 2016–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2016–19
59% 71% Print
television still scores very
50%
50%
50%
high
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
considering the composition
50% 88% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
85%
20% 36%
of our sample (online news 20%
20% 72%
Online (incl.
74% social media) Smartp
20% 68%
consumers). Social media
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 201764%
2018 2019 63% Printed newspapers 63% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 59%
as news source, especially
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 50%TV
43%
Facebook, are high in
27%
international comparison.
16% 12% 10%
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST NB: 2018 figures for computer use were likely overstated
Trust in the news remains
extremely low in general
(28%), though is much higher ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
for sources that people use
themselves (54%). This News overall RTL Klub 6.41 7.59
News I use
28% (-1) 54%

HVG 6.34 7.25
suggests a highly polarised
Index.hu 5.99 6.83
media environment where
consumers are drawn to =34th/38 24.hu 5.98 6.76
ATV 5.94 7.19
brands that reflect their
Népszava 5.47 6.94
political views. This can also Regional or local newspaper 5.33 6.08
be seen by the difference in Hir TV 5.26 6.46
brand trust between those News in search News in social
41% 28%
Origo.hu 5.19 6.31
who are aware of a brand and Magyar Idők 4.87 6.42
users of that brand. MTV (public broadcaster) 4.75 6.26
TV2 4.74 6.4
PAY
7%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
37%
1 Facebook 62% (+2) 85%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 29% (-) 77%
32%
23%
4 Instagram 7% (+3) 26%
listen to
5 Twitter 4% (-1) 11%
PODCASTS in
6 Viber 4% (+1) 29%

IRELAND STATISTICS
Population
4.8m
93%
Brexit has dominated news

coverage in Ireland, the EU
country most likely to be
affected by the terms of the UK’s
withdrawal. At the same time
the government continues to
examine the role of platforms in
disseminating misinformation
and over political advertising
– something which came into
focus during a hotly contested
vote on abortion laws. There have been shifts in media regulation, of its channels and signalling a need for
which could ease the pressure on the press. further reform. The government allocated
Ireland went to the polls twice in 2018, Some titles were engaged in defamation an additional €8.6m of funding. The BAI
first with a referendum on abortion in cases, often settled out of court. One of also recommended an increase in PSB
May and then a presidential election. Ireland’s largest media owners, Denis funding of €30m for RTÉ and €8m for
The referendum was preceded by a O’Brien, tried to sue the Sunday Business TG4. RTÉ faces challenges in appealing
‘citizen assembly’ which debated the Post for defamation but was unsuccessful. to younger audiences and relaunched its
issue and ensured factual information Recently, the High Court reduced what had streaming app to help this.
was available for voters. Nonetheless, been the most substantial payout under the
Defamation Act from €10m to €250,000, TV3 became Virgin Media in August 2018,
issues arose particularly concerning
strengthening the case for reform. a deal which had been agreed the previous
political advertising on Facebook.
year. Virgin Media Ireland, which also owns
A voluntary group, the Transparent
NewsBrands Ireland launched a campaign mobile and broadband services alongside
Referendum Initiative, used open-source
‘#journalismmatters’ – a five-point plan its subscription and free TV channels, says
software supplied by Who Targets Me
to support independent journalism which profits rose by 7% in 2018.54
to analyse messages which were being
called for the reform of defamation, the
promoted to voters. It discovered that There were several redundancies in
introduction of a media minister in the
some adverts from outside Ireland were newspapers. The DMG Group which owns
government, and provision of more training.
appearing in people’s news feeds. Partly the Irish Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday
It also successfully lobbied the government
as a result of this, both Facebook and announced it was seeking 35 voluntary
to reduce VAT on printed newspapers which
Google – whose European HQs are based redundancies55, which comprised about
took effect in January 2019.
in Dublin – announced moves to put a halt 20% of its Irish total. News Corp UK &
to political advertising during the course Journal Media created a new investigative Ireland is making most staff redundant
of the campaign. The election of Ireland’s platform, Noteworthy, supported by and the paper’s print edition will cease
president was more contentious than the Google Digital News Initiative fund, publication. Just three staff positions out
usual – the role is largely ceremonial – allowing the public to suggest topics of about 20 are being retained.
as a result of populist coverage of remarks for journalistic investigation which are
about an ethnic minority made by one assessed and opened up for crowdfunding. Independent News & Media is set to
of the candidates. change hands after its Irish billionaire
Media plurality in Ireland reduced shareholders accepted an offer from
Between Brexit and the two polls, it is somewhat over the past year with the Belgium’s Mediahuis to buy the business
unsurprising to see 76% of Irish people acquisition of the Landmark Media group for €145.6m. Denis O’Brien - who is
expressing an interest in political by the Irish Times. The deal ended the one of Ireland’s richest men - was the
news. More broadly, the digital news ownership of the Irish Examiner by the biggest single shareholder in INM, which
environment saw a slight shift with the Crosbie family whose custodianship began publishes the Irish Independent and Sunday
development of some online partisan in 1872. Nonetheless, the latest BAI Report Independent as well as a popular online
alternative media initiatives, mirroring on media ownership and control concluded version. The titles had already announced
developments in other countries, raising that there has not been a significant they were seeking 30 redundancies after
critical questions about mainstream change in plurality due to changes in a 15.4% fall in pre-tax profits in 2018. INM
news providers. Media Literacy Ireland’s control in the 2015–17 period. had signalled plans to introduce
‘Be Media Smart’ campaign, supported by a subscription model in 2020.56
the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), The public service broadcaster RTÉ
has been providing educational resources continues to struggle to make sustainable Jane Suiter
on how to evaluate news sources. revenues, raising concerns over the future Dublin City University
54
www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/revenues-at-virgin-media-ireland-rose-7-in-2018-1.3809619
55
www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/daily-mail-to-cut-more-than-20-of-its-irish-staff-1.3811222
56
www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/independent-news-media-eyes-digital-subscriptions-as-profits-fall-15-4-1.3842795
92 / 93

AND ONLINE RTÉ News (public broadcaster) 61
15 RTÉ News online 33
12
Irish Independent/Sunday Independent 18

32 TheJournal.ie 12
32
TOP BRANDS Sky News 11
29 Irish Independent online 9
27
% Weekly usage BBC News 12
27 BreakingNews.ie 11
22
Local radio news 8

23 Irish Times online 8
18
Weekly use
Today FM 9
21 BBC News online 8
17
TV, radio & print
Newstalk 7
17 Sky News online 7
16
TV, radio & print The Irish Times 9
17 Her.ie/joe.ie 7
14
Weekly use Virgin Media TV News (was TV3) 6

16 Local radio news online 5
13
online brands Local/regional newspaper 9
13 Irish Examiner online 4
10
More than 3 days per week Irish Daily Mail 7
12 Yahoo! News 4
8
online brands
ITV or Channel 4 News 6
11 Mail online 3
8
Irish Examiner 5
10 BuzzFeed News 5
8
The Sunday Times 7

9 Irish Mirror online 5
8
CHANGING MEDIA CNN 3

8 Local/regional newspaper online 5
8
Sunday World 6
8 The Times (Ireland) online 4
7
The prevalence of digital news
use has not fluctuated much
100%
over five years, holding
100% at an
100%
average of 84%. However,79% the
74%
79%
74%
SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
79% 75% TV
use of TV news has continued74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
59% 71% Print
50% 59% Social media
to decline by almost50%10 59%
50%
100%
40%
40%
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
50% 36%
40% Social media Social media Tablet
percentage points over four 20% 83%
36%
40%
36% 84%
36%
Online (incl. social media) Smartp
years to 67%. In line with 20%
20%
20%
76% 74%
67% 68%
international trends,0%
0%
0%
the use2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015 2016
2017 2018
2017 2018
2019
2019
Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 201750%
2018 2019 52%
of smartphones continued to
2013 2014 50%2016
2015 2017 2018
49%
2019 50% 50%TV 48%
increase over the past five 37%
25%
years, rising to 68% from 52%, 22%
while the use of computers

0% 0%
and laptops continued to fall. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust levels are relatively high DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
by international standards THIS BRAND
with the highest trust among News overall RTÉ News 7.28 7.7
News I use
48% (-6)
RTÉ consumers. However,
55%
BBC News 7.16 7.58
continued discussion about Irish Times 7.16 7.64
the quality of news media and =9th/38 Irish Independent 7 7.46
regulation of online political Sky News 6.92 7.45
advertising has been an TV3 News 6.86 7.44
ongoing debate in Ireland Irish Examiner 6.84 7.53
which may have contributed Newstalk 6.8 7.4

31% 17%
Today FM 6.77 7.37
to an overall decline of trust in
Breakingnews.ie 6.32 7.1
news to just 48%.
Journal.ie 6.27 6.94
Irish Daily Mail 5.57 6.41
her.ie/joe.ie 5.48 6.49
PAY HuffPost 5.46 6.63

Yahoo! News 5.36 6.72
12%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
36%
1 Facebook 37% (-1) 64%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 17% (-1) 60%
37%
3 WhatsApp 15% (+2) 58%
21%
4 Twitter 12% (+1) 23%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Instagram 7% (+2) 31%

ITALY STATISTICS
Population
59m
92%
After last year’s general election,

minor changes in the Italian
media environment took place
to reflect the new balance of
power within Italian politics. This
year has also been marked by
a continuing weakening of the
printed newspaper sector.
Topics related to immigration, government

formation, and the relationship between
the ruling coalition parties have dominated
news coverage this year. After months of Forza Italia (the party led by Berlusconi). of social media, its focus on online videos,
negotiation, the anti-establishment Five Some of these TV shows have now been and the establishment of large teams
Star Movement and the far-right League restored after audience pressure. At of multimedia experts and social media
party formed a government in June 2018. the public service broadcaster RAI, the managers, Fanpage is now among the top
Immigration has long been a core topic for reorganisation has been widespread: as five online news players in our survey list. At
the League’s leader Matteo Salvini, and regularly happens after a new election, top the end of December 2018, Enrico Mentana,
his tough approach towards landings of managers and the TV newscasts editors the editor of La7 television newscast,
immigrants from North Africa, together have been substituted to reflect the launched Open, a digital-born news outlet
with his tendency to comment on crimes changes in the political majority.59 that has been widely publicised from the
where immigrants are involved, have kept Facebook page of its founder. However, it is
the topic in the media spotlight and at the While broadcasters’ revenues have too early to evaluate the success of Open
centre of the public debate. been relatively stable from 2013 to in terms of audience results or its digital
2017, newspapers’ and magazines’ advertising revenues.
Social media posts, especially Facebook revenues experienced a 21% reduction
live streams, have been intensively used by during the same period. In terms of Because of internal disagreements, RAI
the leaders of both the Five Star overall revenue share within the Italian has not yet launched the online news
Movement and the League to circulate communication system, the main players outlet that has been at the centre of
anti-elite and anti-migrant messages, as are the international broadcaster Comcast many discussions in recent years. The
well as to share moments of their personal Corporation/Sky (15%), Berlusconi’s online news reach of the Italian public
and family life. With more than 3.5m broadcasting group Fininvest/Mediaset service broadcaster is still far from the
followers, Matteo Salvini has the greatest (15%), and the public service broadcaster levels it achieves on traditional platforms.
reach on Facebook of any European RAI (14%). Other relevant players are the Although several leading newspapers
politician.57 Social media has also been international platforms Google (4%) and like Il Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica
often used to attack Italian journalists. Facebook (3%), Cairo Communication (the have adopted ‘soft’ paywalls in the last
In early 2019, a Council of Europe report publisher of the TV channel La7, which also few years, our data show the proportion of
warned against the hostile rhetoric from controls Il Corriere della Sera, 4%), and GEDI people paying for any online news is only
members of the Italian government.58 (the publisher of La Repubblica, La Stampa, 9% in Italy, with the figures for ongoing
and several other local newspapers and digital subscriptions even lower.
In line with the Italian tradition of media radio stations, 3%).60
partisanship, editorial and managerial Alessio Cornia
changes in the broadcasting sector have The online news market is still dominated Dublin City University
followed the election results. At Mediaset, by legacy players. The websites with
Note: Some brand positions have moved significantly
the main commercial TV group owned the widest online reach are those of this year as a result of new education quotas and
by Silvio Berlusconi, only minor changes established commercial TV broadcasters changes to our panel providers as we try to increase
took place. Some TV shows hosted by (the Mediaset’s TgCom24 and SkyTg24), accuracy. We have not commented on brand shifts,
the main newspapers (La Repubblica, Il therefore, without corroborating evidence.
journalists known for their anti-migrant
and anti-establishment positions were Corriere della Sera, and Il Fatto Quotidiano),
cancelled or suspended. Many observers and the main Italian news agency (ANSA).
have seen this as an attempt to cut the However, 2018 has also been marked by
media support for Salvini’s League, which the impressive results of the digital-born
at the 2018 general election outpolled outlet Fanpage. Thanks to its effective use
57
www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/06/14/news/matteo_salvini_e_il_politico_europeo_piu_popolare_su_facebook-199008668
58
cpj.org/blog/COE_JournalistsReport_2019.pdf
59
agensir.it/quotidiano/2019/4/1/osservatorio-tg-eurispes-numerosi-i-cambi-di-direzione-nellinformazione-televisiva/
60
www.agcom.it/osservatorio-sulle-comunicazioni
94 / 95

AND ONLINE RAI TV News (Tg1, Tg2, Tg3, TgR) 46
14 TgCom24 online (Mediaset) 24
11
Mediaset TV News (Tg4, Tg5, Studio Aperto) 12

44 ANSA online 10
21
TOP BRANDS SkyTg24 12
31 SkyTg24 online 8
20
% Weekly usage TgCom24 (Mediaset) 15
30 La Repubblica online 9
19
RAI News24 13
25 Fanpage 10
16
Weekly use
Tg La7 10
22 Il Corriere della Sera online 8
16
TV, radio & print
20 Il Fatto Quotidiano online 7
14
TV, radio & print Il Corriere della Sera 10
16 Notizie Libero online 8
14
Weekly use La Repubblica 10

16 RAI News online 7
13
online brands Commerical radio news 8
15 Yahoo! News 7
12
More than 3 days per week Porta a Porta 10
15 HuffPost 6
10
online brands
Piazza Pulita 10
13 Commerical radio news online 5
10
RAI radio news (Gr1, Gr2, Gr3) 5

11 Il Sole 24 ore online 5
9
Il Fatto Quotidiano 5
10 Local newspaper online 5
9
La Stampa 6
9 TgLa7 online 5
9
Dimartedi 7
9 La Stampa online 5
9
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Newspaper readership 79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
continues to fall steadily while
74%
59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
television news viewership
50%
50%
50%
59%
59%has 100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
been more stable than in many
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 80% 36% 78%
other countries. With over20%half
20%
20%
of our sample (58%)0% using it2013
0%
for 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 59%2017 2018 2019 58% 58%
news each week, smartphone
0%
2013 is2014 2015
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019 47% 50%TV
46%
now the main device used to get
27% 25% 25%
online news. 18%
14%
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in news is particularly DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
low. This long-standing THIS BRAND
trend is mainly due to the News overall ANSA 7.4 8.02

News I use
40% (-2)
partisan nature of Italian SkyTG24 6.97 7.5
journalism and to the

strong influence of political =21st/38
47% Il Sole 24 ore
RAI News
6.86
6.67
7.92
6.94
Tg La7 6.58 7.33
and business interests on
Il Corriere della Sera 6.51 7.39
news organisations. Brands
La Stampa 6.27 7.22
that are most trusted are
La Repubblica 6.26 7.19
generally those that are News in search News in social Il Fatto Quotidiano 6.12 6.98
35% 23%
known for lower levels of Mediaset News 6.01 6.55
political partisanship. Porta a Porta 5.8 7.31
HuffPost 5.73 6.79
Il Giornale 5.66 7.02
Libero Quotidiano 5.49 6.35
PAY Fanpage 5.33 6.26
9%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
41%
1 Facebook 54% (+3) 77%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 27% (+2) 78%
30%
3 YouTube 25% (-) 69%
27%
4 Instagram 13% (+6) 41%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 8% (-2) 19%

NETHERLANDS STATISTICS
Population
17m
96%
Faced with fears about

disinformation, the Netherlands
government has been encouraging
its citizens to read critically. While
trust levels remain relatively high,
the government reserved €20m to
support investigative journalism.
Although overall trust numbers are slightly

lower in 2019, the Netherlands still has
relatively high levels of trust in news
from mainstream news organisations.
Trust for most top brands has even Parliamentary elections in May. launch a daily podcast focusing on one
slightly increased. This may be the most main story, similar to NYT’s The Daily. De
remarkable finding in this year’s survey. Facebook and Nieuwscheckers, a fact- Correspondent launched a podcast version
NOS News is still by far the most used checking initiative at Leiden University, of a selection of their articles. Commercial
source and also the most trusted brand. ended their collaboration over a dispute broadcaster RTL News launched a
over legal liability: neither Facebook nor WhatsApp 7am wake-up service in the
There is increasing concern about the university was prepared to bear liability form of a two-minute audio summary of
people’s ability to differentiate for legal claims over the content, such as the day’s main news. Digital news kiosk
between professional news sources and defamation or slander. NU.nl, the most Blendle continues to be loss-making, but
political information/disinformation. popular online news platform, is the only it says Blendle Audio – audio versions of
In December 2018, a state commission Dutch organisation that still checks news articles – is successful and will receive
advised the cabinet to regulate digital items for Facebook as publisher Sanoma further investment.64
political campaigns, for instance by underwrites any litigation costs.63 In line
forcing platforms to indicate clearly with this focus on facts, their discussion NOS News launched NOS Stories on
when advertisements were financed platform, NUjij, banned comments that YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat, bringing
by political parties. The Minister of the deny climate change, explaining that, while news stories targeted at 13-to-18-year-olds.
Interior wants to try self-regulation they encourage critical discussions about
before introducing legislation. climate change, denying it constitutes Dutch public broadcaster NPO received
spreading falsehoods. an additional €40m from the government
In March 2019, the Dutch government to compensate for lower-than-expected
launched a campaign, ‘Stay Curious. Successful membership-based online advertising revenues. Though stressing
Stay Critical’, to raise awareness of news site De Correspondent has spent that the Dutch media landscape requires
disinformation and to teach people much of the year focused on how to adapt solid public broadcasting, the cabinet says
how social media, algorithms, and filter its formula for the English-language a ‘fundamental reflection’ about NPO’s
bubbles function. For instance, research market. Their crowdfunding campaign future is necessary. A long-term vision is
shows that videos from right-wing raised (US)$2.5m within the first month, due to be developed.
parties PVV and Forum voor Democratie through 45,888 members from more than
are recommended on YouTube three 130 countries. The campaign was backed The government reserved €20m to
times as often as videos from all other by dozens of high-profile ambassadors, be spent over four years to support
Dutch political parties combined.61 including Jay Rosen, Nate Silver, Judd investigative journalism. Emphasising the
What’s more, collaborative research by Apatow, Rosanne Cash, and DeRay increasing financial constraints of regional
De Volkskrant and De Correspondent Mckesson. The Correspondent will start and local journalism and importance
suggests that YouTube paves the way for publishing content in September, but of their watchdog role, 75% of the new
radicalisation, through recommendations announced in March that their HQ would budget is earmarked for regional and local
which become more extreme as users be remaining in Amsterdam, raising some projects. So far, €2.7m has been divided
watch more videos. Their data also show eyebrows among (US) supporters who had between 23 projects.
a much stronger presence of the extreme been under the impression there would be
right compared to the marginal presence Irene Costera Meijer and Tim Groot Kormelink
a US office.
of the extreme left.62 The government Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
campaign ran from March until the In line with rising podcast figures (up 3
summer to include the Dutch provincial percentage points), news organisations
elections in March and the European are investing in audio. Newspaper NRC will
61
www.denieuwereporter.nl/2018/11/micro-targeting-bots-en-algoritmes-ondermijnen-democratieen-wereldwijd
62
www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2019/hoe-youtube-rechtse-radicalisering-in-de-hand-werkt and www.decorrespondent.nl/9149/aanbevolen-voor-jou-op-youtube-racisme-
vrouwenhaat-en-antisemitisme/445528853-0f710148
63
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/02/26/factchecken-facebook-loopt-stuk-op-aansprakelijkheid-a3655348
64
www.quotenet.nl/Nieuws/Blendle-eindigt-dieper-in-de-rode-cijfers-in-2017-maar-is-positief-over-de-toekomst-219024
96 / 97

AND ONLINE NOS News (public broadcaster) 62
14 NU.nl 43
12
RTL (including RTL Z and EditieNL) 13

34 NOS News online 10
27
TOP BRANDS SBS News 9
25 Algemeen Dagblad online 8
25
% Weekly usage Free newspapers 15
21 De Telegraaf online 7
23
Local/regional newspaper 8
17
Weekly use
Other NPO TV news programmes 8
18 Other regional or local newspaper website 5
12
TV, radio & print
De Telegraaf 7
18 Regional/Local TV news online 5
11
TV, radio & print Commercial radio news 6
16 SBS News online 4
8
Weekly use Algemeen Dagblad 5

15 de Volkskrant online 4
7
online brands Regional TV news stations 6
13 MSN News 3
7
More than 3 days per week Metro 7
11 Geen Stijl 4 6
online brands
Regional radio news stations 6
11 Metro online 3 5
de Volkskrant 5
9 Linda News 2 4
CNN 4
7 BBC News online 2 4
BBC News 4
7 NRC online 2 4
BNR Radio news 3 5 Trouw online 3 4
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
news79%
Traditional forms of100% such
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
as TV and print have become 74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
59% 71% Print
less important in the last
50%
50%
50%
five
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
years while online news has
50%
80%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36%
remained broadly flat. The 20% 78% Online (incl. social media) Smartp
20% 76%
20% 70%
smartphone is now the 0% most
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed64%
newspapers 58% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
popular device for digital
0%
news,
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017
2013 2014 2015 43%2018 2019 50%TV 50%
42% 39% 42%
switching places with the 33%
computer. The tablet is slightly 25% 23%
on the rise again.

0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
While trust is still relatively DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
high in the Netherlands THIS BRAND
(4th place), overall trust in News overall NOS News 7.42 7.75
News I use
53% (-6)
news is slightly in decline. RTL News 6.89 7.45
This might be caused by

increasing discussions about 4th/38
64% NU (Nu.nl)
AD (Algemeen Dagblad)
6.75
6.68
7.23
7.26
De Volkskrant 6.65
disinformation and fake 7.52
NRC Handelsblad 6.61 7.33
news on social media, rather
Het Financieele Dagblad 6.6 7.26
than by declining quality of
Trouw 6.55 7.26
mainstream news. News in search News in social BNR News radio 6.37 7.38
30% 19% Hart van Nederland (SBS nieuws)

Metro
6.29
6.09
7.35
6.63
De Telegraaf 6.02 6.88
De Correspondent* 5.91 -
Linda news 5.36 6.37
PAY GeenStijl 4.74 6.08
11%
-
* No figure for users of De Correspondent
(did not meet 50 minimum threshold)
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
22%
1 Facebook 28% (-1) 61%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 18% (+1) 70%
21%
3 YouTube 14% (-) 52%
15%
4 Twitter 7% (-) 16%
listen to
5 Instagram 6% (+1) 27%
PODCASTS in

NORWAY STATISTICS
Population
5.4m
99%
The Norwegian media landscape

mixes strong national publishers
and public service media with
a reputation for innovation in
content and business models.
Norwegians show high willingness
to pay for online news. Meanwhile,
#MeToo resulted in political
scandals as well as debates on
media ethics and trust.
Norway remains the country with the service broadcaster NRK from licence fee to Politics and social media have become
highest number of consumers (34%) willing tax, and to redistribute some existing press increasingly interlinked in Norway. As
to pay for online news, up 4 percentage subsidies to local news and innovation. in many other countries, the #MeToo
points since last year, with growth movement has sparked heated debates.
skewed towards those with high income. Almost a third of Norwegians (31%) have The prime case has been the fall of Labour
Norwegians have had a strong tradition for used podcasts during the last month, party Deputy Leader Trond Giske, following
reading print newspapers and the transition and several of the major newspapers a number of sexual harassment allegations
to digital subscriptions has been facilitated have launched a range of podcasts, against him – with accompanying
through hybrid solutions that typically especially focused on news commentary. condemnation on social media. When
bundle paper and digital content. This, and Public service radio broadcaster NRK Giske attempted a political comeback
the absence of freesheets, explains why has responded by adding podcasts to its in early 2019, the tabloid VG reported
Norway remains on top when it comes to already rich menu of programming, for a further incident in an Oslo bar, but
paying for online news. example by relaunching older shows or was forced to apologise when it turned
developing niche podcasts for popular out that the woman involved had been
These trends are reflected in the balance hosts. Podcasts especially reach younger misquoted.65 All this triggered widespread
sheets of traditional publishers. The age-groups, where over half (52%) of discussion, and a major documentary on
foundation-owned local newspaper those under 35 years have used podcasts, public television about sexual harassment,
company Amedia, for instance, reported compared to only 22% of those over the ethics of reporting such cases, and the
a €40m (EBITDA: 13.1%) operating the age of 35. The growth of podcasts treatment of sources.
profit in 2018, with a solid increase in has sparked a debate on regulation in
local digital advertising revenue partly comparison with other news media. Like many other countries, Norway has
replacing falls in print. Schibsted, which Comedians’ podcasts that cover politics, seen the rise of ‘partisan’ news sites in the
owns the largest quality newspaper for example, are accused of repeatedly last few years. Resett.no, document.no, and
Aftenposten as well as the popular breaching ethical guidelines widely rights.no, are among the most used, all with
tabloid VG, and numerous regional observed in Norwegian journalism. a tough stance on issues of immigration
newspapers and publishers abroad, and Islam, and all causing public debates
reported record operating profits Meanwhile the toxic nature of online that extend beyond their relatively small
(EBITDA: 19%). In 2019, Schibsted will comments has led a number of major audiences, thus influencing the wider news
divide its businesses into two parts; a news brands to pull back from offering agenda. These sites are, however, much
consumer media division focused on the these services. Digital-born tabloid less trusted than mainstream media, with
Nordics region and an internationally Nettavisen followed suit in early 2019, the public broadcaster NRK still topping
focused online classifieds business. The despite earlier having launched an the list in our survey. There is an ongoing
split may give Schibsted more cash to elaborate system to counter anonymous debate about partisan media and whether
invest in strategic acquisitions. trolling and hate speech. Meanwhile, they should be part of Norway’s self-
relations between Norwegian news regulatory regime. In 2018, the Association
In March 2019, a much-anticipated white providers and the global platforms of Norwegian Editors granted membership
paper on media policy was published by remained strained. Non-profit fact- to the editor of Document.no, but denied an
the Conservative-led coalition government. checker Faktisk.no, entered into a application from the editor of Resett, based
The white paper restated the need for an collaboration with Facebook, but this on repeated violations of ethical guidelines.
arm’s length distance between government led to questions and a debate about its
and the media – an important principle, not editorial independence, given that it now Hallvard Moe and Hilde Sakariassen
to be taken for granted. It also proposed takes money directly from the platform. University of Bergen
changing the funding model for public
www.newsinenglish.no/2019/04/26/lack-of-humility-led-to-giskes-fall
65
98 / 99

AND ONLINE NRK News (public broadcaster) 55
13 VG Nett online 42
52
TV2 News 14
49 NRK News online 24
33
TOP BRANDS VG (tabloid newspaper) 10
24 Dagbladet online 24
33
% Weekly usage Local or regional paper 10
22 TV2 News online 20
28
P4 News (radio) 7
16 Nettavisen 15
25
Weekly use
Local radio news 6
15 Aftenposten online 16
24
TV, radio & print
Aftenposten 6
14 Local/regional newspaper websites 15
21
TV, radio & print Dagbladet 7
12 ABC News online 5
11
Weekly use Local TV news 5

11 Dagens Næringsliv online 6
11
online brands Radio Norge 6
10 Bergens Tidende online 6
9
More than 3 days per week BBC News 4
8 Adresseavisen online 5
8
online brands
CNN 4
7 BBC News online 3
7 ALSO
Dagens Næringsliv 3 6 Dagsavisen online 3 6 Resett 7%
3 6
Document 6%
SVT (Swedish TV) MSN News 2 5
Human Rights Service 4%
Bergens Tidende 2 5 CNN.com 2 5
Minerva 2%
CHANGING MEDIA Adresseavisa 2 5 P4 News online 2 4 Radikalportal 2%
The vast majority of

Norwegians (84%)100% use
100%
100%
online news weekly, one79% of the
74%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 75% TV
highest figures in our survey,
74%
59%
74% 2016–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2016–19
59% 71% Print
while traditional news
50%
50%
50%
sources
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
36% Social media Social media Tablet
– print and television – are in
50%
86%
40%
36%
40%
36% 84%
20% 36%
decline. Online patterns20%are
20%
72%
69%
Smartp
20% 66%
shifting from computers
0%
0% to2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 64% Printed newspapers
64% Compu
0% 54%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
54%
smartphones, which 0%
are now
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 46% 50%TV
41%
by far the number one device 36%
27% 29%
for news in Norway.
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in news is fairly
low (13th of 38 countries
surveyed), despite little social ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
and political polarisation
in media use patterns, News overall NRK News 7.5 7.83
News I use
46% (+1) 61%

Local or regional newspaper 7.19 7.55
and financial support for
Dagens Næringsliv 7.05 7.73
media. Research has shown
that trust in journalists’ =13th/38 Aftenposten 7.03 7.63
TV2 News 7.02 7.5
professionalism and biases VG 6.51 7.04
depends on political P4 6.47 7.26
preference, with far-right Dagbladet 6.31 6.86
voters and those with News in search News in social
29% 17%
Dagsavisen 6.28 7.07
strong views on immigration Morgenbladet 6.23 7.2
expressing most mistrust. Nettavisen 6 6.69
Klassekampen 5.94 7.7
Document.no 4.7 6.98
PAY Resett 4.35 6.75
34%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
25%
Rank Brand For News* For All
1 Facebook 45% (+5) 75%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 14% (+2) 56%
31%
16%
4 Snapchat 10% (+1) 47%
listen to
5 Instagram 10% (+4) 41%
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 6% (-) 15%
* Note: Due to a scripting error, the news figures come from a re-poll in March 2019.
The base is slightly lower than for other questions. 1387 of the original 2000 sample
responded to the re-contact request.

POLAND STATISTICS
Population
38m
78%
Media in Poland has become

deeply polarised in the last few
years with the ruling Law and
Justice party offering direct
or indirect support to pro-
government media while targeting
critical journalists, sometimes
with law enforcement agencies.
Poland’s highly competitive broadcasting

sector has had a remarkable year: for
the first time in a decade TV advertising
spending outpaced the rate of growth of constituted the unauthorised disclosure of about to launch a new paid content section in
internet advertising.66 Substantial price personal data. In another case, the internal 2019 to diversify its revenue.
hikes introduced by Polish broadcasters security agency entered the house of a
helped the bottom line. Public television TVN cameraman with accusations that French media group Lagardère withdrew
(TVP) revenue, for example, grew by 14% he’d been promoting fascism. The agency from Central Europe. As a result, the
on the back of stronger ratings – helped by referred to pictures taken while working company owned by billionaire investor Daniel
major sports events, such as the World Cup undercover as part of a team that infiltrated Křetínský became the owner of the second
and Olympic Games. Polish neo-Nazis and filmed Hitler’s birth largest commercial radio network, Radio Zet.
anniversary celebration.70 The case against In February 2019 the new owner sold it to the
But ratings for news have not fared so well, the TVN employee (owned by Discovery consortium created by Agora (the publisher
with TVP’s flagship bulletin, Wiadomości, Communications) was dropped four of Gazeta Wyborcza) and Czech SFS Ventures,
falling from 17.4% to 15.1% share. There months later. linked to billionaire George Soros.73
were smaller but significant declines also at
TVN and Polsat. More widely, TVP remains Focused on fighting for survival, major For years podcasts were seen by the Polish
dependent on financial support from independent newsrooms worked on media industry as hard to monetise and
government after further declines in licence improving their reporting and scoops. RMF have been largely left to amateurs. But
fee revenue.67 The subsidies, which have now FM, one of the most trusted brands according in the last year newsrooms started to see
reached €227.3m, have been paid since 2017, to our data, has built its reputation on podcasting as an important way to drive
and together with ads leaves just 20% of TVP breaking news. The Onet news team focused loyalty for premium products. Puls Biznesu
revenue coming directly from licence payers. on in-depth reporting and investigations that launched a regular podcast Puls Biznesu do
translated into the Grand Press Digital award. słuchania (Puls Biznesu to listen) and claims
The government continues to support a to have 15,000 regular listeners. Tok FM radio
number of other media companies through Gazeta Wyborcza published recordings of produces six regular podcasts and Onet and
the substantial advertising spend of state the Chairman of the Financial Supervision Newsweek also jumped on the bandwagon
enterprises and agencies. Tadeusz Kowalski, Authority soliciting a bribe from the owner last year.74
a media scholar at the University of Warsaw, of a bank.71 In January Wyborcza launched
has shown that the main beneficiaries are a series of stories based on recorded Poles do not seem to be as concerned about
pro-government titles such as Gazeta Polska, conversations between the Law and Justice their privacy as many of their European
Sieci, and Do Rzeczy. For them, state-related leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his associates. counterparts; hence time spent on
revenues accounted for 45%, 40%, and 23% The politician was discussing a project to Facebook and Facebook Messenger kept
of total ad revenues respectively.68 build a pair of skyscrapers in Warsaw on growing in Poland, while other European
land owned by a company controlled by countries were using WhatsApp more often.
Meanwhile, some independent journalists his associates.72 Mobile operators offering data plans and
have been attracting government attention pre-installing Facebook applications on
of a different kind. A reporter of the Polish Original content seems to help to sell smartphones drive Facebook usage in Poland.
edition of the Newsweek weekly was subscriptions, and Gazeta Wyborcza remains
summoned for questioning after publishing a clear leader in this area with more than Vadim Makarenko
a profile of the vice-president of Poland’s 170,000 digital subscribers at the end of 2018. Journalist at Gazeta Wyborcza, and former
Constitutional Court.69 It was suggested by Tok FM radio announced in March 2019 that Reuters Institute Journalist Fellow
the prosecutors’ office that the article had it has 15,000 active subscribers and Onet is
66
Estimates from Wavemaker, the biggest media agency in Poland.
67
www.politico.eu/article/tvp-pis-poland-media-battle-gets-political
68
www.press.pl/tresc/56634,prawicowe-tytuly-z-najwiekszymi-przychodami-z-reklam-od-panstwowych-spolek
69
mappingmediafreedom.ushahidi.io/posts/22887
70
www.tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english,157,m/private-polish-broadcaster-tvn-says-is-facing-intimidation-from-state,886858.html
71
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-13/poland-premier-to-probe-bank-watchdog-over-getin-bribe-report
72
www.ft.com/content/b08c0e68-2550-11e9-b329-c7e6ceb5ffdf
73
www.reuters.com/article/agora-radiozet-soros/polish-media-group-agora-buys-minority-share-in-radio-zet-idUSL5N20F62M
74
wyborcza.pl/7,156282,23983125,audio-pozostanie-nisza-ale-przychodowa-jak-zarabiac-na-podcastach.html
100 / 101

AND ONLINE TVN News (incl. TVN 24) 50
9 Onet.pl 54
16
RMF FM 13
42 WP.pl 13
47
TOP BRANDS Polsat News 13
36 TVN24.pl 12
38
% Weekly usage TVP News (public broadcaster) 9
31 Interia.pl 12
32
Radio Zet 12
30 Fakt.pl 11
23
Weekly use
Gazeta Wyborcza 13
24 TVP.info 7
21
TV, radio & print
Fakt 14
24 RMF24.pl 9
20
TV, radio & print Eska 8
20 (Gazeta) Wyborcza.pl 10
19

18 Gazeta.pl 9
18
online brands Super Express 12
18 Radiozet.pl 7
15
More than 3 days per week Regional or local radio 7
15 Polsatnews.pl 8
15
online brands
TTV 6
11 ALSO
Newsweek Polska 6
9 NaszeMiasto.pl 7
10 Mariusz Max Kolonko 10%
6
9 5
9
Pikio 8%
Rzeczpospolita Newsweek.pl
OKO.press 7%
Angora 6
9 Dziennik.pl 5
7
PolskaNiepodlegla 6%
CHANGING MEDIA Przegląd Sportowy 5
9 PrzeglądSportowy.pl 3
7
Prawicowy Internet 4%
Online and television remain

the most important100%sources of
100%
100%
news with popular portals like
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
Onet and WP a defining part
74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
59% 71% Print
of the Polish media50%
landscape
50%
50%
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
along with extensive social
50%
84%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
86%
20% 36% 81%
81%
media use (60% use for news).
20%
20% 76%
Online (incl. social media) 72% Smartp
20%
70%
Meanwhile the smartphone
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 60% Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
has overtaken the computer
0% 52%2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 50%TV 52%
as a way of accessing news for

28% 25%
the first time. 18% 16%
0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
The general trend is that
private independent media
score higher on a trust ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
scale than public service
broadcasters acting in recent News overall RMF FM 6.93 7.55
News I use
48% (-) 55%

Polsat News 6.51 7.37
years more like government
Onet.pl 6.4 7.08
cheerleaders. TVP’s news
tickers have become an =9th/38 WP.pl 6.37 7.07
TVN News 6.35 7.22
object of memes among Gazeta Wyborcza 5.86 7.37
social media users. Despite Fakt 5.55 6.82
significant indirect support Polskie Radio News 5.44 6.93
from the government, News in search News in social
50% 42%
Wpolityce.pl 5.28 6.57
partisan media failed to Gazeta Polska Codziennie 5.15 5.82
grow audience or trust. TVP News 5.15 6.7
Radio Maryja 3.06 7.02
PAY
16%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
43%
1 Facebook 61% (+7) 77%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 39% (+2) 71%
38%
29%
4 Twitter 10% (+2) 18%
listen to
5 Instagram 9% (+4) 27%
PODCASTS in
6 WhatsApp 9% (+3) 24%

PORTUGAL STATISTICS
Population
10m
78%
In an election year, the fight

against fake news has gone
mainstream with the Portuguese
parliament giving draft approval
to moves to tackle disinformation.
Nevertheless, trust in news
remains among the highest in the
countries surveyed.
The challenges of fake news and

disinformation have been highlighted by
elections at national, local, and European
levels. Legislation is being considered in The Media Capital Group, owner of the TVI Meanwhile leading Portuguese publishers
parliament and the media regulator, the news channels as well as radio channels have continued to push ahead with their
ERC, has produced an evidence-based like Rádio Comercial, hit the headlines innovative data-sharing platform Nónio,
report to inform the debate. There have in 2018. The group, considered highly which aims to provide an alternative login
already been several initiatives to address profitable and currently owned by Spanish system to Facebook and Google. Users only
the issue, including a conference hosted by media giant PRISA, became a takeover need to log in once to be recognised across
the Portuguese news agency LUSA, and the target by telecom multinational Altice. the hundreds of news websites, including
launch of a website dedicated to fighting The acquisition didn’t go through, though magazine and news brands, as well as TV
disinformation.75 Additionally, investigative there have been hints that other media and radio on-demand services.
journalist Paulo Pena undertook an in- companies might be interested. Telecoms
depth investigation for leading paper Diário regulator ANACOM has insisted that talks Portugal has been consistently at the
de Notícias, which revealed the connections about media and telecom mergers and top of the rankings for trust in the news,
of some fake news and disinformation sites acquisitions should be closely watched according to this survey. Nevertheless,
to social media platforms, as well as their because of the risks to competition and it has witnessed the birth of its first
methods and backers. the dangers of market concentration. standalone fact-checking platform.76
The move towards digital and the social Polígrafo launched in November 2018, with
In June 2018 Diário de Notícias, which is impact of online has been encouraged by an experienced journalist as director and
one of the oldest Portuguese papers and investment from telecoms providers in major backer. Funded by private investors,
part of the Global Media group, abandoned new forms of data contracts. Most of these the platform has seen interesting growth
its daily print edition, instead investing offers target the key 18–35 demographic rates in its first months. In 2019 several
heavily in its online edition. It still prints and rely heavily on zero-rating tariffs on universities developed partnerships with
an edition on Saturday, but Executive selected apps, a situation that strongly media outlets, journalists’ professional
Editor-in-Chief Catarina Carvalho said benefits international players such as bodies, and lifelong learning organisations
this approach does not mean that the Google and Facebook. to fight fake news and propaganda.
paper will become a weekly. The aim, she
said, was to consolidate the brand as a The sustainability of media groups and Ana Pinto-Martinho, Miguel Paisana and
daily source of news in a renewed digital outlets continues to be difficult, with Gustavo Cardoso
environment. There were no job losses as funding for innovation often coming from ISCTE-IUL University Institute of Lisbon
a result for now, even if some staff have initiatives like Google’s Digital News
been transferred to other brands within Initiative (DNI). In 2018 it financed five
the Global Media Group. It also owns the Portuguese projects to a total of €1.4m
daily Jornal de Notícias and legacy radio (Media Capital, Cofina, Diário de Notícias,
broadcaster TSF. Observador, and a pilot project from a
start-up called ‘The Mosted’ which plans
Printed paid circulation continues its to offer journalists real-time metrics as
steady annual decline across the sector they write). Most of these projects came
and at the same time there has been little from established media groups, but there
progress in getting users to pay online. was also funding for Fumaça, a podcast
The proportion paying for any online news produced by an independent journalism
including subscription, membership, and group which also received funding from the
one-off payment is just 7%, one of the Open Society Foundations, and which is
lowest in our survey. making an impact in the media landscape.
combatefakenews.lusa.pt
75
O Observador (online media outlet) already had a fact-checking space within its website.
76
102 / 103

AND ONLINE SIC News (incl. SIC Noticias) 18
71 Correio da Manhã online 29
13
TVI 18
59 Notícias ao Minuto 13
29
TOP BRANDS RTP/RDP News (public broadcaster) 16
47 SIC News online 11
28
% Weekly usage Correio da Manhã 18
33 Sapo 11
26
Correio da Manhã TV 11
30 TVI News online 10
25
Weekly use
Jornal de Notícias 14
25 Jornal de Notícias online 10
22
TV, radio & print
RFM 10
23 MSN News 7
17
TV, radio & print Rádio Comercial 10
22 Observador 8
17

14 Público online 9
17
online brands Diário de Notícias 9
13 Expresso online 9
15
More than 3 days per week TSF 6
13 Correio da Manhã TV online 8
15
online brands 8
14
Público 8
13 Diário de Notícias online
Expresso 9
13 RTP News online 6
13
A Bola 4
10 A Bola online 3
11
Rádio Renascença 5
10 Dinheiro Vivo 7
10
Record 5
9 Jornal Económico 5
9
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Television is increasingly 79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
challenged by online and74% 59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
59% 71% Print
social media as the most
50%
50%
50%
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
important source of news.
50%
86% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 85% 36% 81%
WhatsApp now reaches 20% 20% 79% 78%social media)
Online (incl. Smartp
20%
almost half of our sample
0%
0% 61%2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Printed newspapers 62% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 57% 57%
(47%) and is used by0% five times
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017
2013 2014 2015 47%2018 2019 50%TV
more people for news than in 36% 34%
2015. Instagram is growing fast 21% 17%
with the young.
0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
This year trust overall DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
has come down to 58% THIS BRAND
(-4), perhaps due to News overall RTP News 7.41 7.9

News I use
58% (-4)
heightened concern about
61%
SIC News 7.31 7.62
misinformation, but still leaves Expresso 7.19 7.93
Portugal in second position 2nd/38 Jornal de Notícias 7.17 7.68
across 38 countries. Public Rádio Renascença 7.09 8.07
broadcaster RTP remains Diário de Notícias 7.07 7.63
the most trusted brand with Público 7.04 7.76

RDP Antena 1 6.98
tabloid Correio da Manhã least News in search News in social
7.94
43% 27%
TVI News 6.77 7.3
trusted – but widely read in
Sapo 6.47 7.26
both print and online.
O Observador 6.38 7.53
Correio da Manhá 5.45 6.22
PAY
7%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
49%
1 Facebook 53% (-) 77%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 24% (+2) 70%
34%
29%
4 WhatsApp 15% (+4) 47%
listen to
5 Instagram 12% (+6) 40%
PODCASTS in
6 LinkedIn 6% (-1) 17%

ROMANIA STATISTICS
Population
20m
74%
With established political parties

and institutions facing a crisis
of confidence, Romanians seem
to be taking it upon themselves
to solve the country’s problems
with the help of mainstream
newsrooms and independent
journalistic projects. Yet trust in
news overall has dropped by 7
percentage points since 2018 –
the effect of a perfect storm that
hit Romanian media amid an especially, leveraged its mass-market In parallel, Libertatea, a mass-market
approach to support public information print title owned by the Swiss Ringier
intense election period. campaigns on health, environmental, and group, has been gradually changing its
other public issues. Thanks to this support, editorial positions ahead of elections. Its
Romanian newsrooms are underfinanced, new investigative team uses social media
the project for the first paediatric oncology
overworked, and vulnerable to economic to promote stories and has succeeded in
hospital in Romania managed to raise all the
and political pressures. This is not an ideal sparking important debates. Facebook
funds needed for its completion.
position in a year when the country took remains a significant gateway for access
the rotating presidency of the Council of Balanced coverage helped some other to news (68% of the digital public), and is
the European Union and is going through media brands retain their audiences. regularly used to generate support for
a series of important elections. This is the case with foreign-owned radio civic campaigns.
station Europa FM, with public radio
At European level, the Romanian government The decline of 7 percentage points in trust
Radio România Actualități (RRA), and with
faced intense criticism on anti-corruption in ‘news overall’, is not due to a lack of
three strong online Romanian-owned
and justice issues. The response domestically public support for journalists. It may be
brands, HotNews, Adevărul, and Ziarul
from leaders of the ruling coalition has the effect of a perfect storm of adverse
Financiar. Other brands, that have carried
been to step up anti-European and populist conditions. Politicians are attacking
more polarised coverage in supporting
rhetoric, including encouraging conspiracy journalists on a constant basis while the
or criticising the government, showed
theories. The targets have been the so-called ruling coalition is adopting legislative
a decline in declared usage, of up to
‘parallel state’, which is purportedly run by changes which damage the judicial system
10 percentage points in the past three
secret services, and uses the judicial system but which are hard to explain to the
years: Antena 1, Antena 3, and România
to decimate the political elite, the banking general audience. Street demonstrations
TV (pro-government), and Realitatea TV
system, George Soros, and foreign investors and protests, which had gone on for
(anti-government). Two journalists from
– which are supposedly trying to impoverish two years, decreased, meaning a drop in
both sides of the divide played a prominent
Romania in order to subjugate it. people’s sense of urgency which had kept
role as candidates in elections for the 2019
European Parliament. interest in the news alive. And last but not
These themes were widely covered by
least, Romanian newsrooms maintained
polarised newsrooms, often with inflamed
Meanwhile public television, TVR, and their tradition of attacking each other in
vocabulary and varying degrees of outrage,
public radio, RRA, continue to struggle order to position themselves. As usual,
though some newsrooms tried to maintain
to remain relevant to audiences – taking these attacks become more intense before
balance. The National Audiovisual Council
positions 5 and 11 in the list of most used elections and thus affect the general
took timid steps to try to keep TV stations
offline brands – despite their stable trust in journalism.
in line with legislation, but they did not
finances. In 2018, for every €4 spent on
prove effective. Raluca Radu
advertising in Romania, €1 was matched
from the public budget for the public University of Bucharest
The top two media brands, which are widely
followed by the digital public both online and service media. Concern about editorial
offline, are a generalist TV channel, ProTV, independence in the face of political
and an all-news television, Digi 24. They pressure has affected their credibility
are both part of publicly traded companies, and limited their appeal. The president
on NASDAQ and on the Romanian stock of public television, for example, was
exchange, respectively. Both newsrooms recorded criticising a journalist for being
tried to keep balance in covering breaking too aggressive with a politician from
news and investigative reporting. ProTV, the ruling coalition.77
Dragoș Pătraru, 3 May 2018, ‘A message on the Freedom of Speech Day: Get your Paws off the Public Television’, https://patraru.ro/2018/05/03/un-mesaj-de-ziua-libertatii-de-
77
exprimare-jos-labele-de-pe-tvr/
104 / 105

AND ONLINE Pro TV News 65
14 ProTV news online 30
10
Digi 24 13
43 Digi 24 online 9
29
TOP BRANDS Antena 1 News 15
39 Ziare.com 18
29
% Weekly usage Realitatea TV 12
34 Yahoo! News 10
26
TVR News (Public broadcaster) 13

29 Hotnews 12
24
Weekly use
Antena 3 8
28 Stiripesurse.ro 12
22
TV, radio & print
România TV 9
25 Mediafax online 10
20
TV, radio & print Radio Europa FM News 9
22 Adevărul online 11
20
Weekly use Regional or local newspaper 15

22 Ziarul Financiar online 10
18
online brands B1 TV 7
18 Evenimentul Zilei online 11
17
More than 3 days per week Radio România News (public broadcaster) 7
18 Realitatea TV online 6
17
online brands
Kanal D News 8
17 Libertatea online 10
16
Adevarul 11
15 Cancan 9
15
Prima TV News 7
14 Antena 3 online 4
14
Libertatea 10
14 Click online 7
13
Radio ZU News 7
13
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
100%
TV and online remain the79%
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
most important news sources74%
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
in Romania with declared
50%
50%
50%
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
printed newspaper 50%
88% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
87%
20% 84% 36% 80%
consumption (19%) amongst 20%
20%
72% 71%
Smartp
20%
65%
the lowest in our survey.
0%
0% The
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 62% Printed newspapers 64% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 56%
smartphone (71% weekly
0%
use)
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 50%TV
has overtaken computers this
year as the most important 22% 19% 17% 15%
access point for digital news.
0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Declining trust in the news DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
puts Romania at the lower THIS BRAND
end of our international News overall Pro TV News 7.17 7.68

News I use
35% (-7)
survey. Increased polarisation
43%
Ziarul Financiar 7.03 7.88
and rising political attacks Digi 24 6.98 7.79
on journalists are part of the 29th/38 Mediafax 6.79 7.62
explanation. The most trusted TVR News 6.62 7.52
brands try to offer the most HotNews 6.43 7.31

Adevărul
balanced picture on politics 6.35 7.2
Ziare.com 6.21 6.92
while more partisan brands News in search News in social
39% 27%
stiripesurse.ro 5.99 6.85
tend to rate lower in general,
Realitatea TV 5.94 7.23
though not with regular users
Libertatea 5.77 6.93
of those brands. Antena 1 News 5.69 7.22
B1 TV 5.6 7.08
România TV 5.34 6.87
Antena 3 4.82 7.24
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING -
PAY Rank Brand For News For All
10% 1 Facebook 68% (-1) 86%
40%
2 YouTube 32% (+1) 78%
pay for
ONLINE NEWS 3 WhatsApp 23% (+5) 64%
4 Facebook Messenger 22% (+4) 62% SHARE NEWS

5 Instagram 10% (+3) 35%
32%
6 LinkedIn 7% (+1) 24%
COMMENT ON NEWS

SLOVAKIA STATISTICS
Population
5.4m
85%
Journalism and the media not

only made the news, they were
the news in 2018, as the full
repercussions from the murder of
investigative journalist Ján Kuciak
and his fiancée were played out in
the judicial and political systems
and in street protests.
The violent death of the young journalist,

whose work focused on corrupt links
between business and politics, continued
to resonate in all spheres of Slovak public Two cases illustrate the prevalence of In the context of continued decline in
life. A wave of street protests ‘for a decent disinformation in social media. One was print advertising revenues (according to
Slovakia’ prompted the resignation of the exposure of a PR agency which was Unimedia’s forecast for 2019 the printed
the Prime Minister, Interior Minister, and running campaigns for politicians and sector’s share of advertising will fall to 8%
Chief of Police. Then a series of leaks from commercial firms based on creating false against 34% for online), the German-Swiss
the investigation kept journalism in the social media accounts and discussion media group Ringier Axel Springer sold
public eye, when it emerged that Marian contributions.80 Another was the repeated its remaining printed titles (such as the
Kočner, a businessman charged with failure of Facebook to remove posts and leading daily Nový Čas) to Slovak buyers,
commissioning the murder, had employed suspend accounts when alerted about retaining only its online brands, notably
private detectives to gather information hate speech and false identities. A bone of aktuality.sk. With the withdrawal, too,
not just on Kuciak but on several other contention for local media is that neither of Bauer Media, which had owned several
journalists whose investigations threatened Facebook nor Google has a fact-checking magazines, this completes a remarkable
his interests. partner for Slovakia, limiting people’s U-turn in a sector which, for 20 years,
opportunities to reliably assess reports of was dominated by foreign capital.
If this made many journalists feel ‘fake news’ sites and posts.
angry and vulnerable, the protests Podcasts are a strong growth area for
demonstrated the commitment of civil Tensions continued between staff and news consumption in Slovakia, after
society to a free and critical media. management at the public service strategic investment by news media in
Tributes to prominent investigative broadcaster RTVS amid concerns about the the format. Currently the most popular
journalists were repeatedly made from ability or will of top management to shield is SME’s Dobré ráno daily podcast, which
the podiums of the demonstrations. programme-makers from political pressure. attracts on average 17,000 listeners, about
A centre for investigative journalism More than a dozen staff have resigned from two-thirds the level of the newspaper’s
affiliated to the international Organised news and current affairs complaining of a print sales. Second is Denník N’s weekday
Crime and Corruption Reporting Project poisonous working atmosphere. podcast Newsfilter, which had almost
was later founded in Kuciak’s name.79 10,000 downloads per day by February
Representatives of two of the governing 2019, more than double print circulation.
Our data do not, however, indicate an parties, Smer-Social Democracy and the Third is aktuality.sk’s Nahlas. Podcasts are
upsurge in public trust in news overall Slovak Nationalists, have repeatedly produced by many of the country’s news
(down 1% and comparatively low) or in presented proposals that many see as magazines, pure players, commercial radio
trust towards particular brands (also hostile to the media. These have included stations, and even the state news agency.
slightly down). This may reflect the reintroducing a clause in the Press Law to The Apple podcast app is the most popular
unceasing flurry of accusations about give politicians a broader right to reply (as means of reception, even though more
fake news and disinformation between was the case between 2008 and 2011, when Slovaks have Android operating systems
‘mainstream’ and ‘alternative’ platforms, Slovakia was criticised by international on mobile phones.81
fuelled by politicians. A generalised bodies for restrictions on press freedom),
mistrust towards public information stiffer legislation on the responsibility Simon Smith
sources might best characterise broader of media for the content of online Charles University, Prague
public attitudes towards the media. discussions, and replacing the industry-run
press and digital council with a state-run
body, which critics say would severely
curtail professional self-regulation.
spectator.sme.sk/c/22024637/new-investigative-centre-will-seek-cooperation-among-media.html
79
It was eventually expelled from the National Association of Public Relations for breaching its ethical codes (dennikn.sk/minuta/1360244/).
80
podcasty.sme.sk/c/22024994/podcasty-v-roku-2018-statistiky-a-grafy-pocuvanosti.html
81
106 / 107

AND ONLINE TV Markíza 59
16 topky.sk 45
17
TV JOJ 17
59 aktuality.sk 17
43
TOP BRANDS RTVS (Public Broadcaster) 15
50 sme.sk 15
28
% Weekly usage TA3 15
42 cas.sk 12
27
Rádio Expres 14
32 tvnoviny.sk 14
24
Weekly use
Nový Čas 16
26 aktualne.sk 14
22
TV, radio & print
SME 10
15 noviny.sk 14
20
TV, radio & print Plus 7 dní 11
14 pravda.sk 9
19
Weekly use Fun rádio 7

13 pluska.sk 10
18
online brands Pravda 8
13 ta3.com 7
14
More than 3 days per week A regional or local newspaper 10
12 dennikn.sk 7
13
online brands
Rádio Vlna 5
10 hnonline.sk 6
10
Plus Jeden Deň 7

10 hlavnespravy.sk 4
9
Rádio Jemné 5
9 dnes24.sk 5
8
Rádio Europa 2 5
9 zive.sk 5
8
Hospodárske noviny 5
7 webnoviny.sk 5
7
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
TV and online news100%
remain79%
74%
79%
the SOURCES OF NEWS 75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
most popular sources of news
74%
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
in Slovakia, with usage
50%
50%
50%
of print
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
newspapers among the lowest
50%
86%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36% 80%
in our survey. Smartphone use
20%
20%
20%
is growing but many0% people2013
0%
still2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 64%
Printed newspapers 62% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 58%
2018 2019
53%
access news using a 0%
laptop or2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015
53% 50%TV
41%
desktop computer.
29%
25%
16% 14%
0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in the news overall
remains amongst the lowest in
our 38-country survey, though ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
trust in specific news brands
is higher. Those that featured News overall TA3 7.03 7.44
News I use
in last year’s sample show
slightly lower levels of trust, 33% (-1) 43%
RTVS
Hospodárske noviny
6.88
6.55
7.29
7.38
but the order is identical, with =30th/38 Rádio Expres 6.26 7.14
Aktuality.sk 6.21 6.8
the rolling news channel TA3
TV JOJ 6.17 6.79
regarded for the second year Pravda 6.17 7.03
running as the most trusted TV Markiza 5.99 6.61
source and popular tabloid News in search News in social
32% 19%
Sme 5.91 6.79
Nový Čas as least trusted. Fun rádio 5.75 6.68
webnoviny.sk 5.69 6.15
Denník N 5.52 6.73
Plus 7 dní 5.36 6.34
PAY topky.sk 5.14 5.83

Nový Čas 4.91 5.77
8%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
42%
1 Facebook 55% (+4) 76%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 26% (+3) 67%
43%
24%
4 Instagram 8% (+3) 23%
listen to
5 Pokec.sk 7% (+1) 15%
PODCASTS in
6 WhatsApp 5% (-) 20%

SPAIN STATISTICS
Population
46m
93%
New management teams and

revised editorial positioning at
El País and RTVE took place
against the backdrop of political
change and turmoil in Madrid.
In online news, the strongest pure
players thrived while initiatives for
regaining trust proliferated ahead
of elections in April and May.
A no-confidence vote ousted Mariano

Rajoy (Popular Party) as Prime Minister
The process of renewing the governing and just some breaking news. The schedule
at the start of June 2018, and Pedro
board of public broadcaster RTVE was includes a new show ‘analysing “fake news”
Sánchez (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party)
delayed by pleas from candidates against and “clickbait” with humour’, Todo es
formed a cabinet of ministers with eleven
alleged unfair assessments. A failed mentira (‘Everything is a lie’), presented by
women and six men. Meanwhile, Soledad
parliamentary vote to choose an interim Risto Mejide, a broadcaster, advertising
Gallego-Díaz became the first female
board for the national broadcaster was one boss, author, and former talent show judge.
editor-in-chief at El País, appointing a
of the first signs of the new government’s Mediaset, which also cancelled its daily
new management team. The paper faces
weakness, and it resulted in the election live three-hour midday politics show Las
double-digit falls in sales, even if El País still
of an interim administrator, Rosa María mañanas de Cuatro in June 2018, is reportedly
leads a market where the circulation of the
Mateo. President Sánchez’s calling of a working on a new online news operation.82
main ten newspapers decreased by 92,000
copies in 2018. La Vanguardia unified its snap general election for 28 April, just four
weeks before the scheduled European, While the bigger news brands still compete
print and digital newsrooms and said it for volume, big media groups Prisa and
would redesign both editions during 2019. regional and local elections, caused the
process to stall for even longer. Meanwhile Vocento have started to sell programmatic
El Mundo also redesigned its website for its advertising together. Vocento continued
30th anniversary. the television service of the new Valencian
public corporation À Punt Media, maybe to roll out a strict metered paywall across
the first of its kind to be truly multi- more of its regional titles, under the
Exclusive stories from El Confidencial and
platform from launch, went to air in June ON+ brand. Meanwhile another regional
Eldiario.es resulted in the resignation of
2018 and it has seen a slow but steady newspaper chain, Prensa Ibérica, bought
two ministers of the new government, one
uptake in its first year. Grupo Zeta, publisher of El Periódico (in
for having evaded taxes in the past and the
Catalonia and other regions), Sport, and
other over doubts about how a master’s
Alternative approaches for covering news a handful of magazines. According to the
degree was obtained. Both leading digital-
are being tested on the second channels of National Commission on Markets and
born news services have recruited new staff,
the three main broadcasters. In TVE, La 2 Competition, by mid-2018 one in three
promoted others, and strengthened their
Noticias was taken off air for several weeks, internet-connected households in Spain
European coverage. Amid the financial
while staff changed their workflows to now use paid-for platforms to watch
difficulties affecting millennial, social-
create a transmedia brand, now producing audio-visual content online, with
media-dependent outlets, BuzzFeed Spain
as much for online and social as for TV. Movistar+ slightly leading over Netflix.
and Vocento’s Eslang closed altogether, and
PlayGround announced it was making more Atresmedia increased the live weekday
news, current affairs and infotainment Samuel Negredo, Alfonso Vara,
than half of its payroll redundant. Avelino Amoedo, and Elsa Moreno
programming in laSexta up to 15 hours/day,
with the addition of a new breakfast show Center for Internet Studies and Digital Life,
El País and El Mundo were the first
Arusitys from 7:30 to 11am. And in February University of Navarra
Spanish partners of The Trust Project,
and while Público launched a Transparent 2019, just after fieldwork was completed
Journalism Tool, others focused on various for this survey, Mediaset folded the two
fact-checking initiatives, with Facebook daily programmes of Noticias Cuatro, and
selecting Newtral, Maldita.es, and AFP their website, into a new current affairs
as partners to identify disinformation brand, Cuatro al día. The better-performing
in Spanish. Voice news services are now weekend editions retain the editorial tone
available via Alexa, Google, and Siri from a of a newscast and are still produced by
range of providers, including CCMA in the Mediaset’s news division, but on weekdays
Catalan language, with news from EITB in it is now a broader-ranging talk show with
Basque in Amazon’s service. on-the-field reporters, studio discussion,
www.elconfidencialdigital.com/articulo/medios/mediaset-lanzara-portal-noticias-liderado-juan-pedro-valentin/20190315135925123119.html
82
108 / 109

AND ONLINE Antena 3 News 56
15 El País online 24
10
LaSexta News 12
40 El Mundo online 8
18
TOP BRANDS TVE News (public broadcaster) 14
18
% Weekly usage Telecinco News 10
38 ElDiario.es 11
18
Cuatro News 12
30 20 Minutos online 6
15
Weekly use
El País 14
24 El Confidencial 8
14
TV, radio & print
Regional or local TV news 8
19 Marca online 4
13
TV, radio & print El Mundo 11
19 La Vanguardia online 6
13
Weekly use Cadena SER News 6

15 Telecinco online 5
13
online brands Regional or local newspaper 9
15 OKDiario 6
12
More than 3 days per week 20 Minutos 8
14 LaSexta online 5
12
online brands 4
12
COPE News ABC online 5
10
Marca 6
12 El Periódico online 5
10
CHANGING MEDIA El Periódico 6

11 RTVE online 5
10
La Vanguardia 5
10 Yahoo! News 4
10
Consumption is more mobile
Onda Cero News 5
9 Público 5
9
than ever before, with two in
three using their smartphones
to access online news.
100%
100%
Market Online (incl. social media)
penetration of fibre-to-the-
79%
74%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
home connections in Spain 74% is
74%
79%
59%
74% 2013–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2013–19
71% Print
59%
44% of households and
50%
50%
the
59%
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
50% 100% Social media 100%
country tops yearly growth
50%
40%
36%
40%
36%
40%
20% 36%
according to FTTH Council 20%
20%
79% 36% 80% Online (incl. social media) Smartp
20% 72% 72%
Europe – this may explain
0%
0%
why
2013 2014 2015 2016 61%
2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers 67% Compu
56%
21% claim to use the 0% internet
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015
53%
50%TV 46%
features of connected or 40%
35%
smart TV to catch up with 28%
20%
what is going on. 13%
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Trust in news among Spanish
internet users remained stable,
as they continued to access ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
a broad number of sources. THIS BRAND
During fieldwork in January, News overall Antena 3 6.37 7.06

News I use
debates about the role of
43% (-1) 48%
El País 6.25 7.15
the media had to do with Cadena SER 6.21 7.31
the mostly sensationalistic 19th/38 TVE 6.2 6.92

LaSexta 6.16 7.11
treatment of the
Cuatro 6.15 7.01
disappearance and attempted
El Mundo 6.1 7.06
rescue of a 2-year-old boy
La Vanguardia 5.97 7.18
stuck in a shaft, which filled News in search News in social
34% 25%
Eldiario.es 5.94 7.04
pages and airtime and boosted El Periódico 5.93 6.92
audiences for two weeks. 20 Minutos 5.85 6.58
El Confidencial 5.81 6.64
ABC 5.76 7.02
PAY COPE 5.72 7.69

Telecinco 5.57 6.84
10%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
52%
1 Facebook 47% (-1) 73%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 36% (-) 78%
39%
3 YouTube 26% (-) 68%
27%
4 Twitter 16% (-6) 29%
listen to
5 Instagram 12% (+4) 38%
PODCASTS in

SWEDEN STATISTICS
Population
10m
97%
Sweden is a digitally developed

country marked by a mix of public
service broadcasters, commercial
legacy news media, and emerging
alternative news media. Domestic
news publishers have lost much
of their advertising revenues in
recent years, with many hoping
that increasing reader revenues
will make up some of the gap.
From 2008 to 2018 Swedish commercial In Sweden many news media have The shift to a reader revenue model will
news media lost more than one-third of continued to cut staffing levels require changes to analytics infrastructure
their advertising revenues, and since figures and improve efficiency. Some have and the metrics used for understanding the
are quite stable for television, the biggest implemented or expanded their use of the needs of existing and potential customers.
losers are organisations formerly known as services for automated content production In light of this, some Swedish news
newspapers. Clearly, the digital and mobile offered by companies like United Robots. publishers are trying to reduce their
advertising markets have grown over time, Others, like the largest local news dependency on platform companies by
but most of that growth has gone to global organisation in Sweden (MittMedia), have focusing more on creating value on their
platform companies such as Facebook and focused on developing and running better own websites and apps (Chua and Westlund
Google (and increasingly also Amazon). technical systems for their digital news 2019). Having said this, several news media
Advertisers have also shifted marketing publishing, analytics, and advertising sales. recently partnered with Facebook over
spend towards paying influencers to talk This has allowed them to syndicate news fact-checking ahead of and throughout the
about their brands, especially on Instagram more easily, as well as increasing revenues general election, to combat disinformation.
and YouTube. across 28 local markets.
Lastly, let us turn to partisan and
So far Swedish news media remain in Our Digital News Report survey data show alternative sites, what Holt et al. (2019)
business, albeit a great number are that 27% of Swedes have paid for online conceptualise as ‘alternative news media’.
dependent on press subsidies from the news in the last year, one of the highest levels In Sweden these are mostly found on
Swedish state, with a budget of nearly in our survey. Several news publishers offer the right wing, and have positioned
500m SEK (US$53m) in 2018. Following special promotions with reduced pricing to themselves as ‘alternatives’ for those who
a media inquiry, the government decided convert readers into registered subscribers. do not find legacy news media credible.
to increase subsidies to publications that However, churn rates are often high, with Fria Tider, Nyheter Idag, and Samhällsnytt
regularly produce original news content many people ending subscriptions after the are the three most widely used, each
comprising at least 55% of their content, promotional period ends. reaching around one-tenth of the Swedish
and have at least 1,500 news consumers, online population on a weekly basis,
predominantly in Sweden. Support for print Swedish news publishers continue to according to our recall-based survey.
has increased by 10%, with distribution accelerate their efforts to increase reader These figures are comparable to survey
support increasing by 50%. The new deal revenue, experimenting with different findings for the two largest quality
also adds more support for innovation and approaches to online subscription models. newspapers Dagens Nyheter and Svenska
a subsidy of up to 1m SEK to local areas MittMedia made a bold move during the Dagbladet in print and a bit lower than
with limited news provision (so-called autumn, enforcing a paywall for all of their online news consumption figures.
news deserts).83 Meanwhile, public service their own news materials (not newswire
broadcasters continue to attract sufficient materials), and across their portfolio of Oscar Westlund
reach among the Swedish population (and local news publishers. Before making Oslo Metropolitan University, Volda University
the young) to maintain their legitimacy and this move, their data scientists, analysts, College, and University of Gothenburg
public acceptance for the tax payments. The and business developers carried out tests
publicly funded television company SVT has with such paywalls on a small selection
reworked their proprietary website, while of local markets. A baseline requirement
SR continues to work strategically with for reader revenue also involves making
non-proprietary social media platforms, and use of functioning systems for subscriber
has experimented with atomised audio. SR management. In 2018 Bonnier Magazines
produces a substantial number of podcasts, lost approximately 10–20% of all their
which are also accessible via commercial subscribers in the course of a few months
audio streaming service provider Spotify. due to problems with their systems.
www.nordicom.gu.se/en/latest/news/new-media-subsidy-scheme-suggested-sweden
83
110 / 111

AND ONLINE 56
14 45
10
SVT News (public television) Aftonbladet online
TOP BRANDS TV4 News 15

49 Expressen online 10
34
SR News (public radio) 10

36 SVT News online 11
31
% Weekly usage
22 Tv4 News online 9
18
Weekly use Aftonbladet 7
16
TV, radio & print
Metro 8
15 Dagens Nyheter online 6
14
TV, radio & print Expressen 6
12 Svenska Dagbladet online 7
13
Weekly use Dagens Nyheter 3

9 Nyheter 24 (News 24) 8
12
online brands ALSO
Svenska Dagbladet 3
8 SR News online 5
12
More than 3 days per week Nyheter Idag 11%
online brands CNN 4 6 Göteborgs-Posten online 5
11
Fria Tider 10%
BBC News 4 6 Dagens Industri online 4
9 Samhällsnytt 9%
Dagens Industri 3 6 Sydsvenska Dagbladet online 4
7 Ledarsidorna 7%
Samtiden 6%
Göteborgs-Posten 3 6 BBC News online 4 6
Nya Tider 6%
CHANGING MEDIA Media from outside country 3 5 Metro online 3 5 Det Goda Samhället 4%
TV and online news remains

stable, but newspaper
100%
100%
100%
reading Online (incl. social media)
100%
and social media news access
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
have dropped significantly.
74%
59%
74% 2016–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2016–19
59% 71% Print
The latter is explained
50%
50% by
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
100%
50% 40%
36% Social media
Social media Tablet
Facebook changing their
50%
89%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36% 84%
algorithms to expose their20%
20% 72%
69%
Smartp
20%
67% 70%
users to less news, 0%
but also
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 64%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 201756%
2018 2019 54%
because news publishers’
0%
are 2014 2015
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 50%2016 2017 2018 2019 46% 50%TV
43%
focusing more on their own 34%
31%
30%
websites. 70% access news
via smartphone, one of the
highest figures in our survey. 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019
0%
2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Four out of ten Swedes DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
express a general trust in THIS BRAND
the news, similar to previous News overall Sveriges Radio (SR) News 6.61 7.36
News I use
39% (-2)
years. Trust is naturally
48%
Sveriges Television (SVT) News 6.59 7.14
higher for the news sources Local or regional newspaper 6.41 6.87
people regularly turn to. =25th/38 Svenska Dagbladet 6.26 7.05
Swedes express somewhat Dagens Nyheter 6.02 7.17
lower trust in news found TV4 News 5.88 6.54
through search engines, and Metro 5.32 6.23
express substantially less Expressen 5.14 5.78

30% 13%
Nyheter 24 (News 24) 5.13 6.8
trust in news exposed via
Nyheter Idag 5.06 6.8
social media.
Aftonbladet 5.02 5.69
Samhällsnytt 4.9 6.93
Nya Tider 4.15 4.91
PAY Fria Tider 4.1 7.12
27%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
27%
1 Facebook 32% (-4) 71%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 14% (+1) 64%
35%
19%
4 Instagram 9% (+2) 50%
listen to
5 Twitter 8% (-) 16%
PODCASTS in
6 WhatsApp 3% (-) 19%

SWITZERLAND STATISTICS
Population
8.5m
91%
The media industry has become

increasingly focused on cost-
cutting and consolidation in
this small and linguistically
segmented news market. These
trends are further reducing the
diversity of outlets and opinions
– problematic in an election year,
and for Switzerland’s direct-
democratic system in general.
Media organisations have continued Worries about diversity also affect the While it claims increasing digital news
to bear down on costs in the face of multi-lingual public service broadcaster subscriptions (e.g. day passes), the data
stiffening economic headwinds – with SRG SSR (including SRF and RTS), which from this year’s survey again show that the
centralised newsrooms becoming announced in 2018 it would centralise number of Swiss willing to pay for online
standard. A new joint venture (CH Media) more resources in its main studio in news remains very low (11%). The ‘news-
is merging all content, except regional Zurich at the expense of Bern, where its deprived’ now constitute the largest (36%)
news, for its outlets such as Luzerner prestigious radio studio would be given up. and fastest-growing group, where if people
Zeitung and Aargauer Zeitung. The Similar ideas are being tested in French- consume content at all, it tends to be from
company announced in 2018 it would speaking Switzerland. Politicians have more popular sources and mainly accessed
cut 20% of its journalists in the next launched a bid in Parliament to stop the via social media.85
few years. In a similar move, Tamedia, moves. The SRG SSR, which won a widely
Switzerland’s largest private media debated referendum in early 2018 on Media companies are experimenting
company, installed central newsrooms the abolition of the licence fee, is under with new formats. Tamedia is testing
for its German-speaking and French- political pressure again. ‘robo-journalism’ on referendum results,
speaking outlets such as Tages-Anzeiger, producing hundreds of articles based
24heures, and Basler Zeitung, a traditional At the same time, the SRG SSR and private on polls which are customised for each
newspaper it had only recently bought media organisations are taking a few steps voting district. Ringier has recently hired a
from Christoph Blocher, a well-known to increase co-operation. While SRG SSR is well-known political news anchorman to
right-wing politician. Only Tamedia’s 20 leaving the advertising platform Admeira, enhance its efforts in producing video on
Minuten and 20 minutes, Switzerland’s which had been seen as a threat by some its widely used websites, and Neue Zürcher
largest online and offline brands (offering private operators, it is joining with private Zeitung works with a newsletter tailored
tabloid-like journalism), have kept their media in a national radio player app. for audiences in neighbouring Germany.
own newsrooms. To cut costs, publishers They are also planning a ‘log-in alliance’ It increasingly offers its articles in audio,
have given up parts of print production which would allow sharing of user data as does the digital-only Republik.
in 2018; Tamedia’s Le Matin, a traditional for targeted advertising. Swiss media have
and popular tabloid, and Ringier’s Blick come to identify global tech companies Conditions for new players remain difficult.
am Abend, a widely circulated free-sheet, as the cause of their problems, even as Watson.ch (launched in 2014) has found
have become online-only outlets. they offer even more content on social an audience but is not profitable, and new
platforms, including those which had been players like crowdfunded Republik still are
These mergers and centralised newsrooms neglected (20 Minuten, for example, is niche products. Thus, success for planned
have reduced the diversity of content. planning a WhatsApp newsletter). Thus, start-ups in French-speaking Switzerland
Most international and domestic political as in the EU, Swiss publishers are seeking like Heidi News (partially supported by
news coverage, including commentary, financial compensation from Google and Google’s News Initiative) is by no means
is increasingly shared among outlets others through new copyright laws. guaranteed.
belonging to the same company. Taking
three different news outlets of Tamedia as The financial situation for publishers Linards Udris and Mark Eisenegger
an example, 68% of political commentary remains difficult, not least because more Research Institute for the Public Sphere and
is now identical.84 This shrinking diversity is companies, most notably Switzerland’s Society, Department of Communication and
a problem in a country where the diversity largest telecom provider, have stopped Media Research, University of Zurich
of opinions is institutionally needed, since advertising in newspapers completely.
several referendums take place each year. Tamedia, for instance, is still profitable
but mainly because of businesses other
than news.
See the summary of the ‘Yearbook Quality of the Media 2018’ (in English, French and Italian) and the full version (in German) at www.qualitaet-der-medien.ch/downloads
84
Yearbook ‘Quality of the Media 2018’, www.qualitaet-der-medien.ch/downloads

85
112 / 113
WEEKLY REACH OFFLINE TV, RADIO AND PRINT (GERMAN) ONLINE (GERMAN)
AND ONLINE SRF News (public broadcaster) 67
17 20 Minuten online 55
11
20 Minuten 16
52 Blick and Blick am Abend online 11
31
TOP BRANDS German public TV news 11

25 Bluewin news 8
22
% Weekly usage Private TV news 10

24 SRF News online 12
22
German private TV news 10

24 Watson 8
16
Weekly use Blick 10
22 gmx 6
13
TV, radio & print
Regional or local newspapers 10
19 Teletext online 6
11
Private radio news 7
18 Tages Anzeiger online 5
11
TV, radio & print
Tages Anzeiger 7
13 MSN News 4
9
Weekly use
online brands SonntagsZeitung 5
8 NZZ online 5
9
More than 3 days per week Sonntagsblick 5

7 Regional/local newspaper websites 4
8
online brands CNN 4
7 CNN.com 4
6

PAY RTS News (public broadcaster) 80
22 20 Minutes online 55
9
20 Minutes 19
61 16
28
11%
RTS News online
French private TV news 15
39 Le Matin online (incl Sunday) 13
28
French public TV news 15

32 Bluewin.ch 10
24
24 heures 10
23 24 heures.ch 7
20
pay for Le Matin Dimanche 13
20 Teletext online 8
17
ONLINE NEWS Private radio news 8
18 MSN News 6
11
Swiss French 15% Le Temps 8
14 Yahoo! News 5
10
Swiss German 9% Regional or local newspaper 8
14 Tribune de Genève online 4
10
Tribune de Genève 6
12 LeNouvelliste.ch 3
9
Commercial TV news 7
11 Le Temps online 5
9
Le Nouvelliste 3
10 Le Monde online 5
8
100%
79%
74%
79%
74%
SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
71%
TV
Online
TV
(incl. social media) DEVICES FOR NEWS
79% 75% TV
2016–19 71%
2016–19
30%
74% 75% Print
TV
59%
74% 71% Print
59% 71% Print
Print NB: 2018 figures for
50% 100% 40%
36% Social media 100% computer use were
50% 40%
36%
Social media Social media likely overstated due Tablet
40%
36%
20% 82% 36% 83% to an error in polling
listen to 20%
20%
20% 69%
71%
Smartp
61%
PODCASTS in
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 201763%
2018 2019 62% Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 60% 57%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
49%
the last month 2013 2014 50%2016
2015 201747%
2018 2019
45%
50%TV
Swiss French 33% 29% 26%

Swiss German 31%
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST

Trust this year is back to the same level as in 2017,
News overall News I use News in search News in social
with higher trust last year probably resulting from
the strong and highly visible counter-reactions
46% (-6)
against the referendum proposal to prohibit
licence fees. Interestingly, however, trust in =13th/38 55% 29% 17%
individual brands remains as high as in 2018. German 48% German 57% German 30% German 20%
French 42% French 49% French 27% French 13%
(GERMAN) (FRENCH)
SRF News 7.25 7.5 RTS News 7.42 7.77 1 Facebook 32% (-1) 60%
NZZ 6.9 7.83 Le Temps 6.98 7.36
Tages Anzeiger 6.72 7.43 24 heures 6.83 7.41 2 YouTube 26% (+2) 64%
ARD* 6.68 – Tribune de Genѐve 6.73 7.25
Tele Züri* 6.17 – TF1* 6.48 –
3 WhatsApp 26% (+4) 74%
Aargauer Zeitung 6.12 7.02 La Liberté 6.46 7.38
Weltwoche 5.93 7.07 Le Nouvelliste 6.45 7.36
20 Minuten 5.92 6.32 Le Matin 6.44 7.14
4 Instagram 10% (+3) 32%
WochenZeitung (WoZ) 5.91 6.94 France Télévisions 6.41 6.82
Bluewin 5.85 6.9 20 minutes 6.24 6.55 5 Facebook Messenger 8% (+1) 32%
Watson 5.56 6.46 Arcinfo 6.17 7.76
RTL* 5.35 – Private TV news 6.15 6.46 6 LinkedIn 6% (-1) 17%
Republik* 5.28 – Bluewin 6.01 6.96
gmx 5.18 6.11 Bon pour la tête* 5.66 –
Blick 4.77 5.62 MSN 5.02 6.09
- -

TURKEY STATISTICS
Population
82m
68%
The ruling party has

strengthened its control of the
Turkish media over the last year
with the sale of the leading media
group to a pro-government
businessman. Television remains
the most important source of
news in Turkey while social
and digital media are an
important outlet for alternative
and critical perspectives.
more expensive.88 Other newspapers More widely, the high levels of political and
The sale by the main Turkish media mogul have either reduced pagination or axed media polarisation in Turkey have been a
Aydin Dogan of all his media outlets to their Sunday supplements. Some local fertile breeding ground for misinformation
Demirören Holding, a pro-government newspapers have also ended print editions. over the last few years. In this context, we’ve
conglomerate with interests primarily in Annual total circulation of printed seen the emergence of a few credible fact-
energy and construction, was the most newspapers and magazines fell 33% from checking organisations such as Teyit.org.
significant development in Turkish media 2013 to 2017.89 Given this background, it
over the past year. As with the sale of would be no surprise if other newspapers Podcasts too are becoming increasingly
Turkuvaz Media in 2008, the transfer were to close in the near future. popular, not only in news media but
took place with the help of credits from also in sectors such as sport, literature,
the state bank.86 As expected, several The most popular online media listed in science, and learning English. All of the
experienced journalists were fired, editors this year’s survey include only two outlets main social media platforms are popular
were changed, and the coverage became which are critical of the government (Sözcü with young people in Turkey. WhatsApp
pro-government in all media outlets in the and Cumhuriyet), along with foreign media and Instagram are particularly popular
group.87 Although Dogan Group’s capability like the BBC. The independent watchdog for news – but that cannot be explained
for criticising the government of President Freedom House classes Turkey as being simply by the fear of government
Tayyip Erdoğan had already eroded before ‘not free’,90 and in this context social media surveillance, since they are also used
the sale, coverage has become more and smaller internet sites have become the widely by supporters of the ruling party.
explicitly supportive of government lines. main platforms for alternative news. The
opposition parties, for example, primarily Servet Yanatma
The fact that the transfer included the
used social media to reach the electorate Turkish journalist and former
internationally known daily Hürriyet is
during the presidential election campaign Reuters Institute Journalist Fellow
particularly important. Its coverage reflects
the political transformation in the country. in 2018 and municipal elections this year.
The second development was the ending While small-scale digital-born brands
of the print edition of two newspapers, continue to provide alternative
Habertürk and Vatan, in mid-2018 due to perspectives, they have not managed to
reduced sales and rising costs. The former achieve significant reach. Many showcase
was one of Turkey’s largest-circulation stories from international brands such as
newspapers, and its CEO explained the BBC Turkish, DW, and Euronews as they
move saying: ‘The cost of publishing a have limited staff to generate original
newspaper has become unsustainable at content. Other perspectives are provided
a time when advertisements are mainly by foreign media like Russian-backed
channelled into digital media outlets and Sputnik, and a new Turkish version of the
broadcasters.’ The circulation of Turkish (UK-based) Independent, financed and
newspapers and their share of advertising run by the Saudi Research and Marketing
revenues has been declining steadily, while Group (SRMG) that has close links to the
printing costs have also risen as a weak Saudi royal family.91
Turkish lira makes imported newsprint
86
www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/ekonomi/2019/02/23/ziraat-bankasindan-demirorene-kredi-aciklamasi-paramiz-vardi-verdik
87
www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-turkish-medias-credibility-dead
88
www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-daily-haberturk-decides-to-end-print-edition-134085
89
Yanatma, S. 2018. Digital News Report: Turkey Supplementary Report. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/digital-news-report-2018-turkey-supplementary-report
90
freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/turkey
91
www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/19/independent-joins-saudi-group-to-launch-middle-east-websites
114 / 115

AND ONLINE Fox TV News 58
13 CNN Türk online 40
16
CNN Türk 15
44 NTV online 15
35
TOP BRANDS NTV 14
38 Hürriyet online 16
33
% Weekly usage Sözcü 17
38 Sözcü online 11
31
Hürriyet 23
38 Sondakika.com 13
29
Weekly use
TRT News (Public Broadcaster) 14
38 Mynet 11
29
TV, radio & print
Kanal D News 16
34 Milliyet online 13
26
TV, radio & print ATV News 12
31 Haberler.com 13
25
Weekly use Habertürk TV 13

30 Habertürk online 11
23
online brands Star TV 15
30 Cumhuriyet online 11
22
More than 3 days per week Milliyet 17
29 Sabah online 11
21
online brands
Sabah 17
29 AA (Anadolu Ajansi) 10
21
Show TV 12
20
Cumhuriyet 14
26 TRT News online 10
19
Posta 14
23 ĺnternethaber 10
19
Ahaber 9
21 Ensonhaber 10
18
100%
CHANGING MEDIA 79%
74%
79%
74%
79%
SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
71%
75%
TV
TV
TV
DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
59%
74% 2015–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2015–19
Although online news
50% is widely
59%
59%
71% Print
Social media
Print
used by our urban-based
50%
50%
100% 40%
36%
40%
Social media
Social media
100%
Social media Tablet
88% 36%
40% 87%
sample, across Turkey as20%
a
20%
36%
36%
20% 75% 74%
whole television remains the
20%
67%
71%
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed 65%
newspapers Compu
0% 59%
most important source
0% of 2013 2014
2013 2014
2015 2016
2015 2016
2017 2018
2017
2019 57%
52%
0%
2013 2014 50%2016
2015 50%2018
2017 2018
2019
2019 50%TV
46%
news. Print newspapers also
continue to be well read by 24% 27%
international standards,
though use is declining. 0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Smartphones are now easily
the most important device for due to an error in polling
accessing online news.
TRUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)

Overall levels of trust in THIS BRAND
the news increased by 8 News overall Fox TV News 6.93 7.84

News I use
percentage points, although
46% (+8) 52%
NTV News 6.69 7.4
there doesn’t seem to be any CNN Türk 6.63 7.25
obvious explanation for such =13th/38 Cumhuriyet 6.52 7.81

Sözcü 6.45
a dramatic change. TV news 7.65
Habertürk 6.26 7.18
sources like Fox and NTV
Hürriyet 6.07 6.9
– along with critical voices
Mynet 6.07 6.76
like Cumhuriyet and Sözcü – News in search News in social
47% 40%
Kanal D News 6.04 7.14
tend to be most highly rated
TRT News 5.96 7.57
for trust. Pro-government Milliyet 5.95 7.1
media tend to be trusted AA (Anadolu Ajansi) 5.81 7.84
less, though they have Show TV News 5.73 7.02
higher scores from those Sabah 5.28 7.18
that use them. Ahaber 4.95 7.23
-
PAY
60%
34% 1 YouTube
2 Facebook
49% (+8)
47% (-4)
76%
71%
SHARE NEWS
pay for via social, messaging or email
ONLINE NEWS 3 WhatsApp 33% (+3) 74%
45%
4 Instagram 33% (+9) 64%
5 Twitter 33% (-2) 49%

COMMENT ON NEWS

116 / 117
Section 3 Americas
3.25 United States 118
Analysis by Country
3.26 Argentina 120
3.27 Brazil 122
3.28 Canada 124
3.29 Chile 126
Americas
3.30 Mexico 128

UNITED STATES STATISTICS

Population
327m
96%
The climate of heightened

hostility toward the US press
under Donald Trump shows no
signs of abating as attention
turns to the 2020 election.
The relentless attacks appear
to be exacerbating already low
levels of media trust – especially
on the right.
Over the last year, major US news outlets

have reaped both audience attention and
affected a variety of publications, from the Netherlands whose membership model has
near-constant derision for their coverage
venerable Cleveland Plain-Dealer to digital- made it a darling of many commentators
of President Trump, and especially of the
born First Look Media. Most notably, in and pundits, announced plans for an
federal inquiry, headed by Robert Mueller,
January 2019, BuzzFeed laid off 15% of its English-language site in November.
into whether his campaign colluded
worldwide workforce (220 positions) the Enthusiasm quickly soured when CEO
with Russia during the 2016 election.
same week that Verizon Media Group, which Ernst Pfauth revealed in March that De
That inquiry yielded dozens of criminal
owns HuffPost, announced a 7% reduction Correspondent would close its New York
indictments, but when it wrapped up in
across its media properties, totalling about campaign headquarters and operate the
March without firmly establishing collusion,
800 positions. Gannett, the largest news English-language edition from Amsterdam.
Trump and his supporters declared victory
and called for retribution against CNN, publisher in the US, also recently announced
layoffs at local newspapers in regions around The US continues to lead the world in
MSNBC, BuzzFeed, and other news outlets podcast listening and has seen a wave of
they said misled the American public. the country, stoking continued concerns
about the future of local news. daily news-focused offerings. The New York
Times’ The Daily, which started in 2017 and
Warning against overcorrection, Washington
Although viewership of local television now averages 1.75m daily downloads, has
Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan
news has held steady, a recent report finds been joined by the Washington Post’s Post
defended aggressive reporting on the Russia
that about 1,800 metro and community Reports, Vox’s Today Explained, Slate’s
story from the Post, the New York Times, the
newspapers in the US have closed or What Next, ABC News’ Start Here, and
Wall Street Journal, ProPublica, and others.
merged since 2004, and more than 1,300 others. Another notable development saw
Recent revelations included a trove of
US communities have lost news coverage VICE News partner with Spotify to produce
documents showing that plans for a Trump
completely.92 New efforts to address the bilingual podcast series Chapo.
Tower in Moscow continued through the
2016 race – a major investigative coup for these deficits include an expansion of
ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network; Platforms continue to invest in new
BuzzFeed. Meanwhile, the New Yorker’s Jane initiatives to bolster the news industry.
Mayer exposed deepening ties between a reporting collaborative, sponsored
by the Solutions Journalism Network, Google recently launched a boot camp for
the White House and Fox News, including eight publishers in the US and Canada to
the charge that before the election the among local newsrooms and institutions
in Charlotte, North Carolina; and a $20m develop new digital subscription strategies,
broadcaster buried a story on Trump’s while Facebook announced in January that
payoffs to adult film star Stormy Daniels. fund from the Knight Foundation and
the Lenfest Institute to ‘strengthen local it would dedicate $300m to programmes
journalism for the digital age’. focused on developing local newsrooms
These controversies have unfolded in a
and content globally.
news environment in which audiences
remain deeply polarised, much more so Significant growth in digital revenues
remains elusive for all but a few large Despite such steps, there have been new
than most other countries covered in this calls to regulate platforms both from the
report. Concerns about Trump’s continued US news outlets. The New York Times
announced in February that it had left, led by presidential hopeful Senator
antagonising of the press as ‘the enemy of Elizabeth Warren’s plan to break up tech
the people’ were reinforced in the wake of a surpassed $709m in digital revenues in
2018 and was on track to grow its digital giants, and from the right, with prominent
shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Republicans like Senator Ted Cruz accusing
Annapolis, Maryland, in June 2018, that left subscriptions to more than 10m by 2025.
Some digital-born organisations aimed to Google and Facebook of bias against
five staff members dead. conservative views.
diversify revenue streams by introducing
News outlets are navigating this complex membership models, including BuzzFeed
Joy Jenkins and Lucas Graves
political environment in the face of and Quartz. Meanwhile De Correspondent,
persistent economic pressure. Job cuts have the digital-born ‘slow news’ operation in the
www.usnewsdeserts.com/reports/expanding-news-desert
92
118 / 119

AND ONLINE Local televison news 30
7 Yahoo! News 20
8
Fox News 8
29 CNN.com 7
19
TOP BRANDS NBC/MSNBC News 9
25 Fox News online 6
19
% Weekly usage CNN 8
22 HuffPost 9
18
ABC News 9
22 New York Times online 8
17
Weekly use
Regional/local newspaper 10
20 Washington Post online 7
15
TV, radio & print
CBS News 9
20 BuzzFeed News 9
15
TV, radio & print Local radio news 7
17 NBC/MSNBC News online 7
15
Weekly use NPR News 4

13 Local television news sites online 6
14
online brands BBC News 6
11
More than 3 days per week PBS News 6
10 MSN News 6
11
online brands
City paper (e.g. Boston Globe) 5
10 ALSO
New York Times 4
9 NPR News online 5
10 Breitbart 7%
The Daily Caller 6%
USA Today 5
8 Website of a city paper (e.g., Boston Globe) 5
9
The Blaze 6%
Washington Post 3 6 USA Today online 6
9
Occupy Democrats 5%
Free city paper 4 6 ABC News online 5
9
Info Wars 3%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
The bump in news100% 79% 79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
consumption is clearly visible
74%
59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
in 2017 after the election
50%
50%
50%
of
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
Donald Trump but since then
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36%
TV, print, and social media
20%
20%
75%
72% 72%
71%
Smartp
20%
news use is significantly
0%
0% down.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
58%
Printed newspapers
57%
Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Meanwhile the smartphone
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 47%
2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 46% 50%TV 53%
(57%) has overtaken the

27% 28%
computer (53%) in terms of 19% 22%
16%
weekly news, with tablet
0% 0%
usage flat. 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Already low, overall levels of DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
trust in news declined only THIS BRAND
slightly since last year, but this News overall Local television news 6.43 7.02
News I use
32% (-2)
masks a deeper divide. Under
50%
Wall Street Journal 6.09 7.22
Trump, trust in news has risen NPR News 5.89 8.12
among audiences on the left 32nd/38 ABC News 5.78 7.31
while falling sharply on the CBS News 5.78 7.21
right – from 17% to 9% in the Washington Post 5.69 7.74
last year alone. New York Times 5.65 7.62

NBC/MSNBC News 5.59 7.44
25% 14%
CNN 5.38 7.33
HuffPost 5.01 6.92
Vox 5.01 6.72
Fox News 4.82 6.98
PAY Buzzfeed News 4.74 6.47

Breitbart 3.88 7.11
16%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
37%
1 Facebook 39% (-) 66%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 20% (-) 62%
35%
3 Twitter 15% (+1) 27%
29%
listen to
5 Instagram 7% (+1) 29%
PODCASTS in
6 WhatsApp 4% (-) 10%

ARGENTINA STATISTICS
Population
45m
93%
The combination of an economic

crisis and political polarisation
has affected the media industry
in Argentina. There have
been significant job losses in
newsrooms throughout the
country, and hopes for a law
which could have regulated media
concentration were dashed when
the legislation stalled in Congress.
News consumption in Argentina has telecommunications company. The newly Political interference in media regulation
decreased across all platforms, from print merged corporation accounts for 42% of and polarisation could be related to low
to social media, but print has suffered fixed telephone lines, 34% of the mobile levels of trust in news in general (39%)
the largest losses, with circulations of telephony market, 56% of fixed internet in 2019. There were also changes in news
the ten top-selling dailies down by 8% connections, and 40% of cable television consumption on social media platforms,
in 2018 compared to 2017. La Nación, the connections, in addition to owning the which increased on Facebook, WhatsApp,
second-largest daily, closed its print plant top-selling newspaper, the 24-hour news Instagram, and Facebook Messenger
early in 2019, which led to around 100 jobs channel with the largest audience, the and decreased on Twitter and YouTube.
being lost. Editorial Atlántida cancelled leading AM radio stations, and several Argentines spend, on average, more
the weekly print editions of 97-year-old FM radio stations. than three hours a day on social media,
women’s magazine Para Ti and 99-year-old which could explain, at least partly, the
children’s publication Billiken. In all, more Grupo Clarín’s dominant position is evident growing reliance on these platforms for
than 500 jobs were lost in the news media in the ranking of the top brands examined information. The role of social media will
industry during 2018.93 for this report. The corporation owns three probably be a hot issue during the electoral
of the top ten brands in the offline ranking campaigns this year, and several local and
Paywalls have been one of newspapers’ (TN, Canal 13, and Clarín), and three of global organisations, such as Chequeado
ways of responding to falling circulation the top ten brands in the online ranking and First Draft News, respectively, are
numbers in the digital space. However, (TN, Clarín, and sports newspaper Olé). gearing up to combat false information
so far only three newspapers, top-selling However, for the second year in a row news on these platforms.
Clarín and La Nación from the city of website Infobae, which is not part of Grupo
Buenos Aires, and La Voz del Interior from Clarín, was the top-ranked online brand. Eugenia Mitchelstein and Pablo J.
Córdoba have implemented them. Clarín This year it also became the top-ranked Boczkowski
reached 150,000 digital subscribers in brand overall. Center for the Study of Media and Society,
December 2018.94 However, only 8% of our Argentina (MESO)
survey respondents said they had paid for The government drafted legislation which
online news in the past year. would have allowed other corporations to
offer ‘quadruple play’ services (landlines,
Due to competition with streaming mobile phones, pay television, and
services such as Netflix and YouTube, broadband internet). The bill was approved
broadcast television ratings reached their in the Senate, but stalled in the Chamber of
lowest level since 2004 and advertising Deputies due to lack of consensus between
decreased significantly in 2018. Pay the government and the opposition. The
television had the highest market share bill is not likely to pass during 2019, which
ever, and in November 2018 Kantar Ibope is a presidential election year. The lack of a
media, in charge of measuring TV ratings, law means that media regulation is mostly
announced it would start measuring Time conducted by executive order. Polarisation
Shifted Viewing. has also influenced news coverage of
corruption scandals, with most media
Political polarisation has influenced
devoting space and attention according
both telecommunication regulation
to their political alignments. Public
and news coverage. In June 2018, the
media have remained relatively neutral,
government formally approved the merger
something which did not happen under
between Grupo Clarín, the largest media
the previous administration.
organisation in Argentina, and Telecom, a
Fopea (Foto de Periodismo Argentino). INFORME 2017–2018 Observatorio y alerta laboral de periodistas (2019), https://www.fopea.org/informe-observatorio-y-alerta-laboral-de-
93
periodistas-de-fopea-2017-2018/
Grupo Clarín, Memoria y Estados Financieros Consolidados, 2018, grupoclarin.com/IR/files/ESTADOS-CONTABLES/2018/GCSA%20-%20EEFF%20-%2012-2018.PDF
94
120 / 121

AND ONLINE TN (Todo Noticias) 41
11 Infobae 42
15
Telefe News 12
37 TN online 12
34
TOP BRANDS Canal 13 News 11
32 Clarín online 12
30
% Weekly usage C5N 10
28 La Nación online 9
22

25 Minuto Uno 10
17
Weekly use
América TV News 10
23 Olé 6
13
TV, radio & print
Clarín 14
11
TV, radio & print A24 7
18 Public TV and radio online news 5
10
Weekly use Crónica TV News 9

18 Página/12 3
9
online brands Canal 9 News 6
15 Yahoo! News 5
9
More than 3 days per week TV pública news (public broadcaster) 8
15 La Voz 4
9
online brands
La Nación 9
14 Primicias Ya 5
9
Regional or local TV news 5

12 Diario Uno 5
8
Canal 26 News 6
12 Cadena 3 online 4
8
Radio Mitre News 4

12 MSN News 4
7
Regional or local radio news 4

10 CNN.com 4
7
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
the most popular sources of
74%
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
news in Argentina,50%while
50%
50%
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
92% 40%36% Social media Tablet
weekly print consumption
50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
86%
20% 81% 36%
has fallen from 45% to 28% 20% Online (incl. social media) 78% Smartp
20%
20%
74% 72%
over the last three years.
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
68% 62%
Printed newspapers
62%
Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Almost eight out of0% ten (78%)
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018
2013 2014 2015
45% 2019 50%TV
45%
respondents say they now
28%
use the smartphone to 17%
access news. 10%
0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust has declined from the DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
previous year, from 41% to THIS BRAND
39% for ‘news overall’ and News overall Telefé News 6.25 7.2
News I use
39% (-2)
from 51% to 47% in ‘news I
47%
Infobae 5.93 6.49
use’. However, trust in news in TN (Todo Noticias) 5.85 6.83
search remained stable and =25th/38 La Nación 5.81 6.9
trust in news in social media Radio Mitre 5.7 7.84
went from 29% to 32%. A24 5.58 6.67
Minuto Uno 5.31 6.48
TV pública 5.29 6.23
38% 32%
Clarín 5.24 6.36
C5N 5.12 6.49
Página/12 5.07 7.02
Perfil 5 6.01
PAY
8%
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
56%
1 Facebook 63% (+3) 83%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 39% (+2) 82%
31%
3 YouTube 25% (-2) 73%
31%
4 Instagram 18% (+5) 49%
listen to
5 Twitter 15% (-3) 24%
PODCASTS in

BRAZIL STATISTICS
Population
211m
71%
The 2018 presidential election

and its aftermath have galvanised
the Brazilian media. The high
political polarisation surrounding
the poll set the stage for multiple
controversies involving not only
the candidates but also the way
media covered the elections.
Social media and messaging apps played a

crucial part in the campaign of former army
captain Jair Bolsonaro, who was elected
president with 57.8m votes in a run-off The clash between candidates’ supporters Globo, as an enemy. The following month,
election – despite having had just eight escalated on social media, culminating in Bolsonaro shared in his Twitter account
seconds TV advertising each day during the the publication by Folha de S. Paulo, one accusations that were proven to be false
first round. WhatsApp became a powerful of the country’s leading newspapers, of against a reporter from O Estado de S.
campaign tool, with roughly a million open a story accusing Brazilian businessmen Paulo, one of the main newspapers.97
groups being created to promote candidates of illegally financing a large-scale
standing in the elections.95 campaign to bombard WhatsApp users Data from the first half of 2018 showed
with hundreds of millions of messages a concentration of advertising spending
In an attempt to prevent fake news from attacking the left-wing candidate on free-to-air TV and online,98 which –
spreading, the main Brazilian media Fernando Haddad. The day after the story combined with the slow recovery of the
outlets set up joint fact-checking projects ran, WhatsApp announced that it had in Brazilian economy – contributed to the
during the campaign. The ‘Fato ou Fake’ the preceding weeks banned more than closing of long-established print titles. The
team – comprising eight print, online, 100,000 accounts in an effort to contain 114-year-old regional newspaper A Cidade,
radio, and television outlets – fact- misinformation and spam. published in São Paulo state, also closed
checked 759 quotes from politicians and its print version. Founded in 1891, the daily
several hundred rumours. Another 24 Brazilians remain some of the heaviest Jornal do Brasil revived its print edition
news brands joined ‘Projeto Comprova’, a users of social media in the world and in 2018. But, after a little over a year, the
coalition that received more than 67,000 usage of all the top social and messaging company announced that its content
messages through its WhatsApp account. brands has gone up significantly again would again only be available online.
over the last year. Growth was particularly
After three years of successive drops in strong among Instagram (+10), WhatsApp Rodrigo Carro
circulation, the efforts of the newspaper (+5), and YouTube (+8) users. Throughout Financial journalist and former Reuters
industry to attract digital subscribers the presidential campaign (and after it), Institute Journalist Fellow
seemed to be paying off.96 Overall daily Bolsonaro’s frequent tweets and Facebook
print and digital subscriptions of the top Live appearances forced a change in
ten paid-for papers rose 2.9% year-on- traditional media coverage, as journalists
year – a 33% rise in digital subscriptions had to keep a constant watch not only over
for those which have electronic editions. the president’s social media accounts but
The increase was fuelled by heavy also on those of his allies. Before taking
discount campaigns and by the extensive office, the Brazilian president announced
adoption of paywalls. 14 of his 22 ministers through Twitter.
Overall trust in news, however, dipped 11 Though Bolsonaro had stated his
percentage points to 48% in comparison commitment to freedom of the press
with last year’s survey, directly in the weeks prior to the second round,
affected by an atmosphere of political his relationship with the media, both
polarisation. The environment of political as candidate and president, has been
confrontation brought partisan media fractious, at best. In an audio message
to mainstream attention, as a significant leaked to the media in February 2018,
number of voters were divided between he referred to the largest media
the left-wing and the far-right candidates. conglomerate in the country, Grupo
95
Non-governmental organisation SaferNet Brasil.
96
Top 10 best-selling dailies, according to Instituto Verificador de Comunicação (IVC Brasil).
97
www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/bolsonaro-brazil-fake-news-journalist-media-attack
98
Conselho Executivo de Normas-Padrão (CENP).
122 / 123

AND ONLINE Globo News 60
12 UOL online 44
18
Record News 13
42 Globo News online (inc. G1) 14
39
TOP BRANDS Jornal do SBT 14
39 O Globo online 14
31
% Weekly usage BandNews 14
38 Yahoo! News 10
25
O Globo 13
26 Record News online (inc. R7.com) 9
24
Weekly use
Regional/local newspaper 13
24 Folha de S. Paulo online 10
21
TV, radio & print
Folha de S. Paulo 10
20 MSN News 9
21
TV, radio & print Commercial radio news 6
14 Jornal do SBT online 8
20
Weekly use CNN 5

13 Band News online 10
20
online brands O Estado de S. Paulo 6
13 Terra online 10
19
More than 3 days per week Rede TV News 6
12 O Estado de S. Paulo online 7
14
online brands
BBC News 6
12 A website of a local newspaper 7
13 ALSO
TV Brasil (public broadcaster) 6
9 BBC News online 6
13 O Antagonista 19%
Free city paper 5
8 Rede TV News online 5
8 Rede Brasil Atual 12%
Brasil 247 10%
Jornal Extra 5
8 Online commercial radio news websites 4
8
Diário do Centro do Mundo 8%
Jornal O Dia 5
8 Jornal Extra online 5
8
Radiovox 5%
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
the most important source74% of
59%
74% 2013–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2013–19
59% 71% Print
news in Brazil while print
50%
50%
50%
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
readership has almost halved
50%
90% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
87% 81%
20% 36%
since 2013. Meanwhile 20%20%
75% 73%
20%
smartphones not only0% overtook
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
55%
computers as the primary
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 50%
2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015
47%
50%TV
means of accessing online
27%
news, they also established 23%
14% 11%
a wide lead.
0% 0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust has fallen 11 percentage DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
points in the last year after THIS BRAND
a difficult and polarising News overall

News I use Jornal do SBT 7.12
48% (-11)
8.03
election. Brazilians have
51%
Band News 7.07 7.72
the highest level of concern Record News 6.97 7.91
about misinformation and =9th/38 UOL 6.53 7.35
disinformation in our survey O Estado de S. Paulo 6.5 7.52
and high use of social media Terra online 6.37 7.39
facilitated the spread of Rede TV News 6.37 7.32
inaccurate information News in search News in social Folha de S. Paulo 6.26 7.45
47% 31%
during the election. O Globo 6.06 7.2
Globo News 5.97 6.97
iG. Online 5.96 7.68
HuffPost 5.54 7.73
PAY
22% -
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
58%
1 Facebook 54% (+2) 76%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 53% (+5) 84%
51%
3 YouTube 42% (+8) 80%
36%
4 Instagram 26% (+10) 54%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 15% (+1) 28%

CANADA STATISTICS
Population
37m
90%
The Canadian government

announced a major package of
support for news organisations
producing public interest
journalism – one of the most
extensive in the world. This
amid widespread fears that
local newspapers in particular
are struggling to fulfil their
democratic function.
The past decade has been especially hard content, especially subscriptions. The Toronto Podcasts are as popular in English Canada
for local newspapers in Canada. Hundreds Star and the SaltWire Network, a chain of 35 as in the US, but much less among
of local news outlets – most of them newspapers in Atlantic Canada, launched Francophones. One in three Canadians
community newspapers – have closed, metered paywalls for online content. listen to podcasts and are highly engaged
though this has been somewhat offset by Ownership of La Presse, now entirely digital with this format, averaging five podcasts
launches of new local operations. Research and centred on its free tablet app, has been a week.101 Facebook, and increasingly
shows that depth of reporting about civic transferred to a non-profit structure. Facebook Messenger, are used more as
affairs declined sharply in small and mid- vehicles for news consumption by French-
sized Canadian communities between 2008 In its 2019 budget, the Canadian federal speaking Canadians than English speakers,
and 2017, leaving citizens less informed government outlined criteria for qualifying who in turn are more keen on Twitter.
about their democratic institutions.99 journalism organisations that will benefit
from non-profit status and refundable Attacks on media and journalists from
Advertising revenues in 2016/17 fell most tax credits on labour costs. Canadians right-wing politicians seem to mirror those of
sharply for newspapers (-20.4%) and with digital subscriptions to qualifying Donald Trump. They are coming from Ontario
magazines (-28%), -8% for media overall.100 Canadian news outlets will also be eligible Premier Doug Ford, who uses his ‘Ford Nation
Many media groups made significant layoffs, for an annual tax credit until 2025. The TV’ on YouTube to connect directly with
including the Postmedia group, owner of government initiatives, which won’t come voters, and from Maxime Bernier, a former
the largest newspaper chain in Canada; Vice into effect until 2020, raised concerns Conservative minister who launched a new
Canada; Rogers; Huffington Post; Canadian in the journalism community about federal party with a populist platform.
Press; and Star Metro, a group of free dailies transparency, as well as comment about
owned by Torstar and Metro International. the types of media that would be excluded Oil pipelines, immigration, and – especially
The new ownership of Métro Montréal (i.e. broadcasters, specialised outlets, small in Quebec – religion continue to be
appears to be off to a rocky start, with a local publications with a single journalist). polarising issues, and concern regarding
series of resignations, including several disinformation is on the rise. However, trust
newsroom managers. Also in Montreal, Agence France-Presse became the in traditional and online media remains
Voir ended publication of its monthly print Canadian partner of Facebook’s third-party higher in Canada than in the US.
magazine, launched in 2016. fact-checking programme, with a journalist
dedicated to rating accuracy of news stories In early February, the Globe and Mail
Rogers, once Canada’s biggest print circulating on the social media platform. published allegations of political
magazine publisher, sold its remaining After ending its joint venture with Rogers, interference in criminal proceedings against
publications including Maclean’s (news) Vice Canada entered a broadcast agreement SNC-Lavalin, an engineering firm. This led
and Chatelaine (women, general interest), with Bell Media. to the resignation of two cabinet ministers,
to St Joseph Communications. Torstar the Prime Minister’s closest adviser and the
acquired iPolitics, a digital news source Several industry-based initiatives were Clerk of the Privy Council, the top federal
focusing on Canadian politics. New launched to foster news literacy, digital civil servant. Although early polls suggest
media initiatives include the Logic, a citizenship, and ‘counter-disinformation’, the scandal has been damaging to the
subscription-based digital news source with new projects focusing on local news governing Liberal party, it remains to be
focusing on the innovation economy, and (Facebook) and underserved communities seen whether trust in media will be affected
QUB, an online French-language radio (The Discourse/Public Policy Forum) and as a result of this heavily covered story.
service from Québecor. teens (CIVIX). Partisan news sites such as
Rebel Media and National Observer still Colette Brin
National newspapers the Globe and Mail and have limited reach in Canada. Centre d’études sur les médias, Université Laval
Le Devoir continue to focus on paid online
99
A. Lindgren et al., Local News Map, www.localnewsresearchproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/LocalNewsMapDataasofFebruary12019.pdf ; Public Policy Forum (2018), Mind
the Gaps, www.ppforum.ca/publications/mind-the-gaps/?sf_data=all&sf_paged=5
100
Compiled by ThinkTV for 2016–17, based on data from Statistics Canada, Television Bureau, IAB Canada, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
101
GlobalWebIndex Q3-Q4 2018; Edison Research, The Infinite Dial Canada 2018.
124 / 125
WEEKLY REACH OFFLINE TV, RADIO AND PRINT (ENGLISH) ONLINE (ENGLISH)
AND ONLINE CTV News 41
12 CBC News online 26
9
Global News 12
33 CTV News online 9
23
TOP BRANDS CBC News (public broadcaster) 12
32 CNN.com 7
19
% Weekly usage CNN 9

27 Global News online 9
18
Local radio news 7
25 HuffPost 9
15
Weekly use CityTV News 10
22 Yahoo! News 7
15
TV, radio & print
A community newspaper 12
19 MSN News 6
15
Local daily newspaper e.g. Calgary Sun 8
15 8
13
TV, radio & print Globe and Mail online
Toronto Star 8
14
Weekly use Toronto Star online 6
12
online brands BBC News 7
13
BuzzFeed News 7
12
More than 3 days per week Globe and Mail 6
11
BBC News online 5
10
online brands Fox News 4
9
Local radio news online 4
10

PAY
TVA/LCN Nouvelles 65
13 TVA Nouvelles online 32
11
9%
Radio-Canada/RDI (public broadcaster) 13
51 Radio-Canada/ICI RDI Nouvelles online 9
31
Journal de Montréal/de Québec 18

36 La Presse online 9
28
Local or regional newspaper 13

17 Journal de Montréal/de Québec online 11
27
pay for local radio news 5

14 MSN News 10
22
ONLINE NEWS
TV5 Nouvelles 6
12 Canoe 7
10
Le Devoir 5
9 Le Devoir online 5
9
English 9% 5
9 5
9
CNN HuffPost
French 8%
Le Soleil or regional daily 4
8 Yahoo! News 4
8
Métro 4
8 L’Actualité online 5
8
L’Actualité 5
7 Local radio online 3
8
24 hours 4
7 Regional/local paper website 67
100%
79%
74% SOURCES OF NEWS
75% TV
Online (incl. social media) DEVICES FOR NEWS
29%
79% 75%
71% TV
74%
79% 75% TV
74%
59%
74% 2016–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2016–19
59% 71% Print
Print
50% 59% 40% Social media NB: 2018 figures for
50% 100% 40%
50% 40%
36%
Social media Social media computer use were Tablet
40%
listen to 20%
20% 75%
36%
36%
likely overstated due
to an error in polling Smartp
20%
PODCASTS in 0%
0%
20%
2013 2014 2015 2016
71%
2017 2018 2019
66% 64%
57%
the last month
0%
0%
2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017 2018
2017 2018
201748%
2018
2019
2019
2019 50% 50%TV 51%
39%
36%
28% 25%
24%
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST

Trust in media declined in Canada this year, News overall News I use News in search News in social
returning to 2017 levels. The shift is most
perceptible among respondents under 35
and Francophones, who previously had
52% (-6) 59% 35% 20%
5th/38
higher trust in media than Anglophones.
English 52% English 59% English 35% English 20%
French 52% French 61% French 36% French 19%
(ENGLISH) (FRENCH)
CTV News 7.22 7.68 ICI Radio-Canada Info/ICI RDI 7.82 8.21 1 Facebook 40% (+2) 70%
CBC News/Newsworld 7.21 7.78 TVA Nouvelles/LCN 7.45 7.89
Global News 7.17 7.6 La Presse 7.44 8.09 2 YouTube 25% (+3) 65%
CityTV News 6.97 7.67 Le Devoir 7.35 7.8
Globe and Mail 6.96 7.52 La Presse Canadienne* 7.29 –
The Canadian Press* 6.8 – TV5 Nouvelles 7.13 8.03
National Post 6.77 7.73 L’Actualité 7.03 7.3
Maclean’s 6.7 8.01 CBC/Newsworld 6.98 7.7
4 Twitter 11% (-1) 24%
Toronto Star 6.64 7.42 CTV News 6.92 7.54
Vancouver Sun 6.41 7.45 Journal de Montréal ou Québec 6.9 7.56 5 Instagram 8% (+2) 31%
24 Hours 6.27 7.17 24 Heures 6.57 6.89
Metro 6.12 7.52 Canoe.ca 6.43 7.35 6 WhatsApp 4% (-1) 16%
Huffpost 6.09 6.8 Métro 6.36 7.21
MSN News 6.07 7.08 HuffPost 6.27 7.37
The Rebel.media* 5.11 – MSN News 6.18 6.81
- -

CHILE STATISTICS
Population
18m
78%
Public and private broadcasters,

print and digital – all aspects of
the media in Chile feel like they
are facing a crisis, with layoffs,
closures, and major restructuring.
There is some innovation in
the hunt for new audiences
and revenues, but everyone is
searching for a successful strategy.
Chile is a seismic country, and its

news industry has been experiencing
such as camera operators, and also their Television remains the most important
tectonic movements and a consequent
long-form news stories which will now traditional news source in Chile, beating
shakedown. Whatever comes out of these
be made by independent production radio and newspapers. MEGA, the leading
movements, the landscape will be very
companies. Despite this, Canal 13’s news TV station, which is home to many of the
different for producers and consumers
bulletin is the second most viewed in the most popular programmes and the most
alike. The public broadcaster Televisión
country, and they have pioneered the watched news broadcast, AhoraNoticias,
Nacional (TVN), funded completely by
integration of their TV broadcast with their has fared better in the economic crisis
advertising – and in tough competition
radio station and online platform, t13.cl. than the rest of the media. Bolstered by
with private rivals – faces particular
the robustness of its position, it opened a
problems because of low ratings and weak
The crisis has also affected the print second television station – Mega Plus – for
ad sales, which has led to newsroom and
industry. Copesa, owner of La Tercera, cable and terrestrial digital television, with
production layoffs. As a result, its board
one of the two big Chilean newspaper news, documentaries, and lifestyle topics.
has changed, it has been hit by strikes, and
companies, closed two of its most It’s integrated with its information radio
has received a government cash injection
prestigious and award-winning paper station Imagina and incorporates visual
of US$47m to keep it on air. In addition,
magazines, Paula and Qué Pasa, with versions of radio shows in the TV schedule.
some senior executives had their pay
editors and journalists laid off. But the
cut. The broadcaster’s president, Bruno Social media, especially Instagram, is
brands returned as online and social
Baranda, announced a multi-platform mainly used as a way of drawing attention
publications, produced by new teams
strategy in the hope of building audiences to content which is produced on other
and with a new focus on innovative
and making money. platforms. It is used more for advertising
digital products. Another example is
an afternoon web newspaper called La than for journalism, with content often
TVN’s cable news channel, 24 Horas,
Tercera PM which arrives as a newsletter; condensed to help comprehension. There
became the most viewed Chilean cable
the company’s radio stations have also is little original material produced for
station, beating the local version of CNN.
strengthened their podcast distribution. these platforms, and there is limited
Although it’s not as trusted as CNN,
interaction, though MEGA and Paula
this has been matched with an increase
Emol is supposed to be an online version have made some attempts to do this. Live
of visitors to its website, making it the
of El Mercurio newspaper, but it works with streams with user comments have been
country’s second most visited.
content produced by a separate newsroom used by some publishers, with 13.cl (Canal
Chile has felt somewhat insulated from the which doesn’t talk to the print newspaper. 13) also operating a small team dedicated
rise of so-called ‘fake news’, and even this El Mercurio’s parallel gambit is to upload to working on mobile journalism and
year the debate has seemed to focus on a digital facsimile edition to capture online video.
foreign and well-known cases elsewhere. subscriptions through a recently launched
paywall. The reading experience is similar Francisco Javier Fernández Medina
The effect on confidence in the news in
to LUN, a tabloid which is third in the online and Enrique Núñez-Mussa
general has permeated local Chilean
list, and which has a high readership every Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
audiences with trust levels (45%) down
8 percentage points on last year. year, despite being just a digital edition.
Canal 13, a TV station formerly owned by

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
but now a private enterprise, also had
significant layoffs because of a revenue
crisis. As part of cost-cutting measures,
they outsourced audio-visual services,
126 / 127

AND ONLINE MEGA News 50
12 Emol.com 30
16
Canal 13 News 15
46 24horas online 10
29
TOP BRANDS Chilevisión News 13
40 Lun.com 11
28
% Weekly usage 24 Horas 16
40 Biobiochile online 8
28
TVN News (public broadcaster) 14

36 t13.cl 8
18
Weekly use 7
18
CNN 12
26 ahoranoticias.cl (MEGA)
TV, radio & print
Las Últimas Noticias 14
23 Cooperativa online 8
17
7
21 Elmostrador online 8
16
TV, radio & print Bío Bío Chile
Elmercurio online 10
16
Weekly use Free city newspaper 12
18
online brands Regional or local newspaper 10
17 Latercera.com 8
16
More than 3 days per week La Tercera 10

15 Chilevisión.cl 6
16
online brands 8
14 Elciudadano.cl 10
15
El Mercurio
9
12 CNN.com 6
13
La Cuarta
6
12 Lacuarta.com 7
12
Cooperativa
6
10 Terra.cl 8
11
City newspaper (paid)
Theclinic.cl 5
11
La Red 5
10
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Online and social media are
79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
used by the vast majority74%
for
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
news each week, with50%
50%
50%
both
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
93% 40%
WhatsApp and YouTube50% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
86%
20% 80% 36%
becoming more influential 80%
20% and
20%
76% 74%
20% 71%
Facebook losing some 0% ground.
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Smartphones have 0% become the
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 50%2016 2017 46%
2014 2015 2018 2019 50%TV 51%
main way of accessing news 33% 33%

(80%) in the last three years, 18%
with computers on the decline. 11%
0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in the news has fallen DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
substantially in the last year, THIS BRAND
but this may be more related News overall

News I use Bío Bío Chile 7.35
45% (-8)
7.79
to global rather than local
47%
CNN 7.33 7.76
trends. Journalism in Chile Cooperativa 7.21 7.76
tends to be less polarised 17th/38 24 Horas 6.74 7.32
than many other countries Canal 13 6.7 7.3
in the region. Radio and MEGA News 6.66 7.51
TV brands top the list for Chilevisión 6.46 7.2
audience-rated trust, with News in search News in social TVN (public broadcaster) 6.42 7.07
44% 34%
tabloid newspapers and La Tercera 6.31 7.01
online sites near the bottom. El Mercurio 6.16 7.17

Emol.com 6.09 7.02
Lun.com 5.72 6.72
PAY
7% -
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
57%
1 Facebook 64% (-4) 81%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 40% (+4) 81%
38%
3 YouTube 31% (+4) 76%
37%
4 Instagram 20% (+8) 48%
listen to
5 Twitter 16% (-2) 25%
PODCASTS in

MEXICO STATISTICS
Population
131m
65%
There is a new political

landscape in Mexico, with a
popular president and new
parties in government. The
news industry, however,
faces the threat of a 50% cut
in government advertising,
which could have significant
implications for revenues.
The presidential elections and the triumph

of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, leading
called Verificado which involved fact- The 11 titles that appear in traditional
a coalition called ‘Juntos Haremos Historia’
checking and debunking of hundreds of high-consumption media also offer their
(Together we will make history) have
false stories and memes. content on attractive, shareable digital
changed the outlook for the Mexican
platforms. Video predominates everywhere
media. It is the first time that a political
Mexican society has changed both its news along with some audio. Grupo Televisa is
coalition represented by parties other
consumption and wider use of media as a unique in offering all its news programmes
than the PRI (Party of the Institutional
result of digital platforms, social media, via Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Apple
Revolution) and the PAN (National Action
and smartphones. These changes in turn TV. Grupo Reforma and El Economista
Party) has triumphed in Mexico. The new
have contributed to the fragmentation and are the only publishers that use paid
president had the majority of electoral
political polarisation of audiences, which subscriptions for their digital products.
votes and the coalition represents more
also become huge challenges for media
than 60% of the seats in the Chamber Some publishers have made strategic
and advertisers.
of Deputies and 53% in the Senate. alliances with international media. For
Mexico’s traditionally strong media example, Grupo Milenio includes content
The new political arrangements are having
outlets are still those generally chosen from the Financial Times, and Grupo Reforma
repercussions on the news media, which
by the general public online. But at the does the same with the New York Times.
have become accustomed to having the
same time, it’s clear that publishers are
government as their principal advertiser. Religious institutions, universities, and
segmenting their approach, targeting
Publishers have been told that 50% of the media are the three most trusted
different socio-economic groups.
the advertising spend by the federal institutions in Mexico in the past decade –
government will disappear. This situation, TV Azteca and Televisa continue to be the this stands in sharp contrast to the level of
combined with a generally weak economic leading commercial TV companies, with trust people have in politicians. However,
environment for the news industry, caused their news programmes having the highest the triumph of the new president has
some publishers, including Grupo Reforma, audiences. The newspaper El Universal, restored some credibility and news brands
Grupo Milenio, Grupo Radio Centro, and founded in 1916, leads the online news that have an affinity with his ideology such
Grupo Imagen, to make significant cuts market, and is also second most popular as Aristegui Noticias may also benefit
to their workforce. among traditional media. The most popular from higher trust levels in our survey this
digital-native news media are Aristegui year. On the other hand, the lower rating
For those still in work, journalism remains
Noticias, UnoTV, and Animal Político. They for Televisa may be because of links with
a poorly paid and dangerous profession.
have different characteristics and strategies. the various groups which previously had
Reporters face constant threats when
political and economic power – these have
covering issues such as political corruption Aristegui Noticias is characterised by
been strongly criticised by Andrés Manuel
and drug trafficking – murders, kidnappings, strong investigative reporting and a
López Obrador and Aristegui Noticias.
and other threats are not unusual. business model which focuses on content
marketing and working with brands to María Elena Gutiérrez Rentería
Bots and trolls spreading false stories
distribute content. On the other hand, Universidad Panamericana
through social media is another hazard,
UnoTV has a high market penetration
in a country which has one of the highest
because of guaranteed digital distribution
uses of WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube
from its parent telecom company,
in our survey. During the recent election,
America Móvil. Animal Político stands
a number of journalistic organisations
out because of its journalism model
including AJ+, Animal Político and Pop Up
and revenue based on crowdfunding.
Newsroom got together to counter the
threat of misinformation with a project
128 / 129

AND ONLINE TV Azteca News 45
13 El Universal online 35
18
Televisa News 11
40 Aristegui Noticias 11
31
TOP BRANDS El Universal 19
31 TV Azteca news online 10
26
% Weekly usage A regional or local newspaper 19
29 CNN.com 11
24
CNN 12
28 Yahoo! News 11
23
Weekly use
Milenio News 12
27 Website of a city newspaper 12
23
TV, radio & print
Imagen News 11
26 UnoTV online 10
21
TV, radio & print Reforma 14
21 Reforma por Internet 13
21
Weekly use Radio Fórmula News 9

19 Televisa News online 8
21
online brands Excelsior 11
18 Animal Político 10
20
More than 3 days per week Other local radio news 7
14 El Financiero online 11
18
online brands
Canal 22 News 7
13 Imagen News online 8
16
Other local television news 7

13 Other regional or local newspaper website 10
16
El Financiero 8
13 La Jornada por Internet 9
16
El Sol de México 9
13 Radio Fórmula news online 8
15
BBC News 7
11 El Economista online 8
13
CHANGING MEDIA
Online and social media
100%
100%
100%
remain the most popular 79%
74%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
sources of news in Mexico74%
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
with our predominantly
50%
50% urban
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
100%
50% 40%
36% Social media
Social media Tablet
sample. TV and radio remain
50%
91% 40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
91%
20% 36% 81%
important to reach the 20%
20%
72% 73%
20% 70%
millions of people who 65%
0% are 2013
not 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0% Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 59%
online. The majority0%of 51% 2019
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
50%2016 2017 2018
2013 2014 2015 2019 50%TV
45%
internet news access is now 38% 35%
via smartphones (81%) rather 24%
18%
than computers or tablets.
0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
The media have traditionally DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
enjoyed relatively high ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
THIS BRAND
levels of trust in Mexico
News overall Aristegui Noticias
News I use 7.43
50% (+1)
8.66
along with religious
55%
El Financiero 7.01 7.83
institutions and universities.
El Universal 7.00 7.58
Television is often the most
6th/38 El Economista 6.91 7.68
popular medium with both
Canal 22 6.90 7.59
audiences and advertisers, Radio Fórmula Noticias 6.82 7.59
but, unusually in our survey, Imagen Noticias 6.78 7.53
newspaper brands often Reforma
News in search News in social 6.71 7.39
score better in terms of
48% 39%
UnoTV 6.39 7.25
trust, along with some TV Azteca Noticias 6.18 7.29
digital-born brands. SinEmbargo 5.94 6.79
Televisa Noticias 5.34 6.77
PAY
16% -
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
64%
1 Facebook 67% (+6) 86%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 42% (+5) 83%
57%
3 WhatsApp 41% (+6) 84%
43%
4 Twitter 23% (-) 40%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Instagram 15% (+7) 46%

130 / 131
Section 3 Asia Pacific

3.31 Australia 132
Analysis by Country
3.32 Hong Kong 134
3.33 Japan 136
3.34 Malaysia 138
3.35 Singapore 140
Asia Pacific
3.36 South Korea 142
3.37 Taiwan 144

AUSTRALIA STATISTICS
Population
25m
88%
The Australian media landscape

has been through 12 months of
upheaval marked by takeovers,
closures, job losses, and a
leadership crisis at the national
public broadcaster. Amidst the
gloom, a philanthropist bearing
$100m emerged offering hope.
Media ownership in Australia contracted

further at the end of 2018, when the
broadcaster Nine Entertainment Co. took
over Fairfax newspapers. Under the deal, news, the 24-hour subscription channel, Amid the job losses, takeovers, and
Nine promised the flagship mastheads of Sky News, is attempting to broaden its instability, there have been some
the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, and the audience by screening on the free-to-air positive developments as well. The
Australian Financial Review would remain television channel, WIN. federal government began rolling out
editorially independent. So far, 92 jobs its regional innovation funding for local
have been lost. Nine has since sold the Just how to deal with the impact of news initiatives, including scholarships
Fairfax stable of more than 160 regional Google and Facebook on the news and for 60 young people from regional areas
papers, including the Newcastle Herald, the advertising industries is the subject of to study journalism at university. Before
Illawarra Mercury, the Canberra Times, the an ongoing inquiry by the Australian Christmas, a $100m philanthropic body,
Land and the Examiner, to a former Domain Consumer Competition Commission. the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism
CEO, Antony Catalano. Global job shedding Preliminary recommendations include and Ideas, was established to champion,
by Vice and BuzzFeed were also felt in tighter monitoring and regulation of the foster, and fund journalism initiatives and
Australia and NewsCorp has let go more way platforms use news, and greater improve public discourse. Independent
than 60 staff in the past year. transparency about the use of consumer media brand Crikey also launched a new
data. A range of tax incentives and ‘inquiry’ journalism initiative employing 12
Politically, internal federal government subsidies are also being considered investigative reporters. These initiatives
infighting resulted in a change of Prime to improve the financial footing of have provided glimmers of hope in a time
Minister and subsequent resignations of journalism. The media industry is keenly of uncertainty and contraction.
female MPs over claims of bullying and awaiting the final report to government
sexism. The leadership instability in federal which is expected at the end of June Podcasts continue to be popular in
politics was echoed at the helm of the 2019. In the wake of the terrorist Australia, particularly amongst the
public broadcaster when the Managing massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand, under 35s (43%). The highest award for
Director of the Australian Broadcasting the parliament passed new laws cracking journalism excellence, the Gold Walkley
Corporation, Michelle Guthrie, was sacked down on social media platforms if they Award, went to Hedley Thomas from The
by the board without notice. The Chair, host violent extremist content. Australian newspaper for an investigative
Justin Milne, resigned not long after amid podcast series called ‘The Teacher’s Pet’
allegations he had called for the sacking of Journalism standards have also made about an unsolved murder. It had a global
journalists who were unpopular with the headlines. BuzzFeed found itself at the audience of more than 27m listeners.
government, and thereby had undermined centre of a costly defamation case for For a traditional newspaper journalist
the editorial independence of the ABC. allegedly ‘slut shaming’ a federal MP. to win for a piece of audio journalism
This sparked a Senate Inquiry into political A further 36 journalists and news were marks the massive transformation of
interference in the ABC. To restore calm, summoned to appear before the court the news industry away from single to
the Prime Minister appointed an icon of for their reporting of the conviction of multiplatform reporting.
Australian media, Ita Buttrose, to chair the Cardinal George Pell on historic child
public broadcaster and win back the trust sex abuse charges. A suppression order Caroline Fisher
of staff and the Australian public. In good prevented the reporting of the conviction News and Media Research Centre,
news for the public service broadcasters, until a second related case had been University of Canberra
an inquiry rejected complaints that the resolved. The Victorian Director of
ABC and the SBS were undermining the Public Prosecutions sent letters to 100
commercial news sector and found that journalists, editors, and news outlets for
Google and Facebook were a bigger threat breaching suppression laws and alleged
to competition. In other broadcasting contempt of court.
M. Evans, G. Stoker, M. Halupka, www.thepolicyspace.com.au/2018/04/272-trust-and-democracy-in-australia-democratic-decline-and-renewal

102
132 / 133

AND ONLINE ABC News – TV and radio (public broadcaster) 40
13 News.com.au 25
10
Channel 7 News 11
39 ABC News online 7
22
TOP BRANDS Channel 9 News 14
37 nine.com.au 9
22
% Weekly usage Channel TEN News 10
24 Yahoo!7 5
13

12
Weekly use
SBS News 7
15 Sydney Morning Herald 5
11
TV, radio & print
Commercial FM radio News 4
13 The Age online 4
8
TV, radio & print Herald Sun 6
8
Weekly use Daily Telegraph 5

10 Daily Telegraph online 5
8
online brands Prime7 5
10 BuzzFeed News 5
8
More than 3 days per week WIN Television 5
10 Guardian online 3
8
online brands
The Australian 4
8 Herald Sun online 4
8
Sky News 3
8 The Australian 4
7
BBC News 4
8 Channel TEN news online 4
7
CHANGING MEDIA Sydney Morning Herald 5

8 CNN.com 3 6
Commercial AM radio news 3

8 Sky News online 4 6
TV news remains strong and
steady in Australia and
continues to be a significant
100%
source of news, while
79%
74%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
newspapers continue to fall,
74%
79%
74%
59%
74% 2016–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2016–19
71% Print
59%
and social media stagnates.
50%
50%
59%
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
Online, increasing numbers
50% of 40%
36%
40%
36%
40%
20% 36%
Australians are using their
20%
20%
78%
36%
20% 73%
mobile phone to access
0%
0%
news, 65%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
60% Compu
58%
widening the gap between
0%
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 2016 201752%
2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 50%TV 51% 51%
45%
mobiles and computers. 38%
28% 27%
21%
TRUST
0% 0%
Trust in news has fallen 2% 2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
globally, but in Australia

it has dropped 6% from
a high of 50% in 2018.
Turmoil at the ABC with ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
accusations of political THIS BRAND
interference, combined News overall ABC News

News I use 7.11
44% (-6)
7.76
51%
with community concern SBS News 6.92 7.93
about the takeover of the Australian Financial Review 6.53 7.7
Fairfax newspaper stable by 18th/38 Channel 7 News 6.43 7.06
Nine Entertainment Co. and Channel 9 News 6.42 7.07
overall political instability, The Australian 6.33 7.39
may have contributed to Sydney Morning Herald 6.31 7.21
News in search News in social The Age

this fall in trust in news. 6.29 7.49
32% 18%
The Saturday Paper 6.04 7.97
Other data shows trust in
Guardian online 6.03 7.83
politics down in 2018.102
Sky News 5.96 7.25
Herald Sun 5.96 6.99
Daily Telegraph 5.79 6.97
PAY Huffington Post 5.6 6.74
14%
BuzzFeed News 5.06 6
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
27%
1 Facebook 36% (-5) 70%

SHARE NEWS
2 YouTube 19% (-1) 60%
27%
3 Facebook Messenger 10% (-1) 49%
19%
4 Twitter 9% (+1) 17%
listen to
5 Instagram 7% (-2) 30%
PODCASTS in
6 WhatsApp 6% (-4) 21%

HONG KONG STATISTICS

Population
7.4m
87%
The rejection of a Financial

Times journalist’s visa renewal
application has highlighted
continued concerns over
press freedom in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, a critical government
department report on Hong
Kong’s only public broadcaster
has raised questions about the
organisation’s role and resources
amid declining audiences.
Club (FCC) and his chairing of a talk in As the only public broadcaster directly
The commercial broadcaster TVB August 2018 by a fringe political party funded by the government, Radio
continues to dominate free TV and online convener who openly advocates Hong Television Hong Kong’s (RTHK) role has
news. Its efforts to deliver cross-platform Kong’s independence from China. Indeed, been subject to much debate, especially
media content have been strengthened by when the event was announced the FCC in terms of its editorial independence and
the success and profitability of its over- was criticised by both pro-government ability to fulfil its social obligations. This
the-top (OTT) streaming service, which politicians and the media for providing a was exemplified by the controversial FCC
reaches half of all households in Hong public platform for the calling for Hong talk when management banned news
Kong through its set-top box, mobile app, Kong independence. Representatives from staff from live-streaming the speech
and online portal. Indeed, the percentage the Office of the Commissioner of the because it was likely to advocate Hong
of households owning a set-top TV box has Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China also Kong independence. The additional task
increased from 16% to 43%.103 Sensing this sent representatives to dissuade the club of operating three new TV channels since
trend and opportunity, pay TV broadcaster from hosting the event, but it eventually 2014, along with seven radio channels, has
i-Cable, which has accumulated losses of went ahead as scheduled. created extra burdens for the broadcaster
more than US$250m in the past decade, to generate enough media content. A
has announced plans to offer its own OTT No reason for the visa denial was given government audit in 2018 criticised the
service even though it lacks a substantive by the immigration department despite broadcaster for its lack of original TV
online brand presence. requests from the FCC, the Financial programming and repeatedly rerunning
Times, and the British government for an the same programmes to fill time.
The success of TVB’s OTT business has not explanation. A proposal by pro-democracy
prevented the laying off of more than 200 lawmakers to summon immigration Despite these challenges, RTHK remains
staff, 5% of its workforce, due to continuing officials to explain the denial was rejected a popular brand for news and ranks the
challenges for legacy media with falling by pro-government lawmakers who highest in terms of brand trust. Most of its
advertising revenues. Online media have comprise the majority in the legislature. radio and TV podcasts are readily accessible
not been spared these difficulties as even online and through its seven mobile apps,
HK01.com, which was established in 2016 One notable aspect of the visa denial case which contributes to the overall popularity
and has since become a popular online was that the news of Chinese government of podcasts in Hong Kong.
news brand as indicated by this survey, has representatives visiting the FCC was
laid off 70 staff as part of its restructuring. broken by the crowdfunded English- Michael Chan, Francis Lee,
Popular news brand Apple Daily plans language online newspaper Hong Kong and Hsuan-Ting Chen
to make readers register for its online Free Press. Founded in 2015 to provide Chinese University of Hong Kong
edition, and there is speculation that this independent news, it has been quite
is a precursor to eventually introducing a successful in sustaining its operations
paywall for its content. through public donations, which rose from
over US$130,000 in 2016 to US$220,000
Political influence in Hong Kong’s media in 2017. Despite its early success and
came under international scrutiny when inclusion in this survey’s brand list, it does
Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet’s not reach a wide audience (3%), reflecting
visa renewal application was denied by how English-language news has a very
the immigration department without small market in Hong Kong and is still
explanation. Most observers attributed dominated by global brands like the BBC
this to Mallet’s role as the first vice- and CNN.
president of the Foreign Correspondent’s
www.nielsen.com/hk/en/insights/news/2018/nielsen-media-index-take-up-of-mobile-first.html
103
134 / 135

AND ONLINE TVB News 68
12 TVB News online 39
9
Headline Daily 12
40 Apple Daily online 8
38
TOP BRANDS Apple Daily 8
28 Yahoo! News 10
36
% Weekly usage RTHK News (public broadcaster) 10
27 Headline Daily online 7
26
AM730 7
25 Hk01.com 10
21
Weekly use
Sky Post 8
24 Oriental Daily News online 8
21
TV, radio & print
NowTV News 8
23 RTHK News online 6
18
TV, radio & print Oriental Daily News 7
19 AM730 online 5
17
Weekly use Metro Daily 6

15 Sky Post online 6
16
online brands Commercial radio 5
15 Now TV News online 6
16
More than 3 days per week BBC News 5
12 Bastillepost 7
11
online brands
i-CABLE 4
11 Metro Daily online 4
10
CNN 5
11 Commercial radio news online 4
10
Hong Kong Economic Times 5

11 CNN.com 4
10
Sing Tao Daily 5

11 Hong Kong Economic Times online 3
9
Ming Pao 4
10 Ming Pao online 3
9
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Consumption habits have79%
100%
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
74%
79% 71%
75% TV
changed little over the last
74%
59%
74% 2017–19 71%
75%
71%
Print
TV
Print 2017–19
59% 71% Print
few years with television
50%
50%
50%
and
59%
59%
100%
40%
Social media
Print
Social media
Social media 100%
40%
online remaining main50%
84%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36% 82%
sources of news. The use20% of
20% 74% 75%
20%
67% 68%
social media is slightly
0% down
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 60%
2018 2019 Printed newspapers Compu
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 57%
in the last year – mainly
0%
due2013
2013
2014
2014
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
2018 2019
48%
2018 2019 50%TV
44%
39%
to declines in Facebook usage 37%
26%
– while WhatsApp and 22%
Instagram continue to grow.

0% 0%
2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Hong Kong online news DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
consumers trusted the THIS BRAND
news they personally used News overall

News I use RTHK News 6.89
46% (+1)
7.64
much more than the news
52%
Now TV News 6.77 7.22
derived from online search Ming Pao 6.65 7.48
and available through social =13th/38 i-CABLE News 6.64 7.39
media. Compared to last year, Commercial radio news 6.57 7.22
overall trust in news and trust Sing Tao Daily 6.41 7.24
in ‘news I use’ remain largely AM730 6.41 6.98
the same, along with trust in News in search News in social Headline Daily 6.3 6.78
34% 26%
search and social media. Yahoo! News 6.3 6.76
TVB News 6.28 6.67
Oriental Daily News 6.02 6.71
HK01 5.84 6.41
Apple Daily 5.72 6.44
PAY Stand News 5.65 6.72
17%
Bastillepost 5.64 6.31
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
51%
1 Facebook 52% (-4) 81%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 41% (+3) 85%
53%
3 YouTube 33% (-2) 73%
23%
4 WeChat 16% (+1) 54%
listen to
5 Instagram 13% (+4) 42%
PODCASTS in

JAPAN STATISTICS
Population
127m
93%
The media landscape in Japan

has long been characterised
by strong newspapers with
large circulations, along with
five country-wide networks of
television including the licence
fee-funded public broadcaster
NHK. However, with traditional
readership falling, publishers
are exploring ways of
embracing digital.
One unusual aspect of the Japanese Fact-checking has increased with
Led by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, online landscape is the dominant more players joining. In a hard-fought
which sells 8.1m, and Asahi Shimbun, 5.6m, presence of Yahoo! News, which became Okinawa prefectural governor’s election
daily newspapers are still enormously popular as Japan’s primary portal website in September 2018, many rumours and
influential in Japanese society. However, in early 2000s and has maintained that statements online were fact-checked and
as in the rest of the world, circulations presence ever since. It aggregates news found to be false or misleading. Among the
are decreasing fast. Total newspaper stories from a range of news providers in fact-checkers were two local newspapers
circulation in October 2018 was 39.9m return for a share of advertising revenue and Factcheck Initiative Japan, which is
or 0.7 copies per household, down 5.29%, and reaches almost half of our sample a coalition of journalists and academics.
or 2.23m copies, from the previous year – (48%) more than three times a week and Meanwhile BuzzFeed Japan and NHK
a record fall. over half (54%) in total. Yahoo still uses recently investigated anonymous viral
humans rather than algorithms to select websites and uncovered details of how
The shift to digital is slower than in many the eight top stories on the site – seeking they operated.
other countries because there is so to balance different viewpoints and
much print revenue to protect. Despite genres such as politics, crime, science, Anonymous viral sites’ stories were on
this, Nikkei (Japan Economic Daily) has world news, sports, and celebrity. It also occasion more widely shared and spread
accelerated its ‘digital first’ strategy provides original in-depth stories, as well than stories from traditional media,
following its purchase of the Financial as articles commissioned from independent BuzzFeed Japan found. The inclination
Times, reaching 650,000 paid subscribers. journalists and commentators. towards anonymity in Japan affects
Nikkei has started to publish stories first people’s choice of social network. Japan is
online, before sending them for print, a Other popular news aggregators a rare country where Facebook is not the
practice hitherto unheard-of in Japan. include Line News (19% weekly reach) number one social network; YouTube and
In another sign of digital change, Nikkei which is part of Japan’s most popular Twitter are both far larger. They are widely
has started to signal exclusive stories social platform. The Line platform used by people to express themselves
on Twitter, for example, an hour before reaches around 79m Japanese users anonymously, while Facebook enforces
publishing an interview online with jailed and combines professional news with rules around using real names.
former Nissan Co. chairman, Carlos Ghosn. social and chat functionality. It has also
been used by investigative journalists Public broadcaster NHK recruited a
As part of its digital renewal, the Asahi to source important news stories. The rookie female news presenter Yomiko –
Shimbun has launched seven new online- Nishinippon Shimbun newspaper, a daily a computer-generated character driven
only media brands, each of which covers published in the Kyushu region, runs a by artificial intelligence. Looking to
subjects ranging from world affairs to successful ‘Investigation Team’, which appeal to a younger generation, Yomiko
millennial women’s lifestyle to college uses Line as its main tipline from readers. uses machine-learning to correct her
sports. However, perhaps the most The paper has found the platform a good pronunciation of thousands of Kanji
remarkable move is that the Yomiuri way to engage young people; among the (Chinese characters used in the Japanese
Shimbun finally announced the relaunch paper’s 4,700 Line Friends (contacts), language). She has also been composing
of its digital service Yomiuri Online. It has there are 100 teenagers. This approach Senryu, or Japanese short poems similar
been extremely wary of cannibalising print resulted, for example, in a compelling to Haiku, about the latest news stories
revenues, but is now offering subscribers an story about students’ complaints about to make journalism more fun.
extensive digital product. However, Yomiuri the difficulties of the school curriculum.
still doesn’t offer digital-only subscriptions – Yasuomi Sawa
access remains bundled with print. Journalist, Kyodo News and former Reuters
Institute Journalist Fellow
136 / 137

AND ONLINE NHK News (public broadcaster) 12
51 Yahoo! News 54
6
Nippon TV News (NTV) 16

45 NHK News 4
9
TOP BRANDS Asahi TV News 15
40 Nippon TV News online 4
9
% Weekly usage Fuji TV News 15
38 Asahi TV News online 4
8
TBS News 16
38 Nikkei online (Japan Economic Daily) 2
7
Weekly use
20 TBS News online 4
7
TV, radio & print
TV Tokyo News 7
15 Fuji TV News online 4
7
TV, radio & print Yomiuri Shimbun 2
13 Asahi Shimbun online 3 6
Weekly use Asahi Shimbun 2

11 Nikkei Business online 2 4
online brands Commercial radio news 4
11 Sankei News online 2 4
More than 3 days per week Nikkei (Japan Economic Daily) 2
8 TV Tokyo News online 2 4
online brands
Mainichi Shimbun 1 4 Local newspapers online 1 3
CNN 2 4 Yomiuri online 1 3
Sankei Shimbun 3 Mainichi online 1 3
ALSO
CHANGING MEDIA BBC News 3 MSN News 1 3
HuffPost Japan 2%
Weekly Bunshun 3 Abema TV News online 1 3
Television news remains the Buzzfeed Japan 1%
most important source of

news in Japan, while print
100%
has declined significantly
79%
74%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
over the last six years. 59%
74%
79%
74%
74% 2013–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2013–19
71% Print
59%
Japanese engage with 50% online
50%
59%
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
news primarily through
50%
40%
36%
40%
36%
40%
20% 85% 36%
aggregators like Yahoo! News,
20%
20%
36%
20% 69%
tend to use social networks
0%
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 63%
2017 2018 2019
63% 68%
60%
less, and have taken0% longer2013
0% to 2014
2013
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 50%TV 48%
fully embrace smartphones. 46%
32%
17% 20% 19%

TRUST 6% 9%
0% 0%
There has been widespread 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
discussion of the issue of low NB: 2018 figures for computer use were likely overstated
trust in the media including
an NHK drama Fake News
and more fact-checking ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
services. Public broadcaster THIS BRAND
NHK remains the most News overall NHK News

News I use 6.32
39% (-4)
6.9
40%
trusted news brand while Nikkei ( Japan Economic Daily) 6.09 7.08
popular magazines (Weekly Nippon TV (NTV) 5.95 6.35
Shincho, Weekly Bunshun) =25th/38 Local newspaper 5.94 6.63
have a reputation more for TBS News 5.86 6.39
gossip and sensationalism Yomiuri Shimbun 5.8 6.59
than serious reporting, Fuji TV News 5.79 6.57
News in search News in social Sankei Shimbun

although they often succeed 5.78 6.36
23% 20%
TV Asahi 5.76 6.31
in exposing misdeeds of
Mainichi Shimbun 5.65 6.45
the rich and powerful.
Asahi Shimbun 5.39 6.47
HuffPost Japan Edition 5.09 5.96
BuzzFeed Japan 5.01 6.63
PAY Weekly Shincho 4.86 6.46
7%
Weekly Bunshun 4.67 5.74
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
10%
1 YouTube 16% (-3) 50%

SHARE NEWS
2 Line 14% (+5) 38%
23%
3 Twitter 10% (-2) 25%
6%
4 Facebook 5% (-4) 19%
listen to
5 Niconico 2% (-2) 10%
PODCASTS in
6 Instagram 2% (-) 15%

MALAYSIA STATISTICS
Population
32m
78%
Political upheaval in Malaysia

after years of authoritarian rule
led to high hopes of an extension
to media freedom. A year on, the
new government appears to be
reluctant to carry out its promises.
In May 2018, a disparate coalition,

Pakatan Harapan (PH), won a historic
and unexpected general election over the
Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which
had governed Malaysia for more than six
decades. The first few months following
Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, resigned, after Aggregator sites and social media are also
the victory saw much euphoria and the
having been at the helm for just six on the rise as providers of information
welcoming of a ‘New Malaysia’.
months. The company then began a round – if not specifically news. One of the
Almost a year on, much of that seems to of layoffs. But then Abdul Aziz returned, causes is that many Malaysians continue
have died down, with PH losing two state buying up more than 30% of the company’s to be reluctant to pay for online news
by-elections. For many, it has been a year shares. The uncertainty continues with – among our respondents 16% say they
of some election promises being kept but the conglomerate’s fortunes evidently are paying. To paraphrase the founder
numerous others still needing to be fulfilled. being linked to how well UMNO does in of the Malaysian Insight, Jahabar Sadiq,
Promises relating to media freedom and by-elections and how far it distances itself Malaysian millennials willingly pay for
freedom of expression make up some of from former prime minister Najib Razak.105 lattes but not for news107 – though it
the more controversial ones. One of the should be said that some news sites, like
The problems faced by Utusan are common Malaysiakini, have built a significant base
first items on the new government’s agenda
to the press in Malaysia. Circulation for of subscribers (more than 24,000 by
was to repeal a hastily created Anti-Fake
virtually all daily newspapers has been late 2018).108
News Law, passed by the BN administration
going down since even before the election.
just before the May elections. The aim
In August 2018, New Straits Times Press, the Zaharom Nain
had been to punish bearers of critical
country’s oldest publisher, announced it was University of Nottingham Malaysia
information provided by web-based news
selling its Kuala Lumpur headquarters and
portals and social media. But the repeal has
its printing plant. The New Straits Times, like
been delayed for at least a year, after being
other pro-BN media companies, has been
rejected by the Malaysian parliament’s upper
experiencing dwindling circulation. Soon
house which is dominated by BN senators.
after the general election, there appeared to
After a reported loss of MYR669m be hope for reform. Groups and individuals
(approximately US$172m) in 2017, Media from Malaysian civil society banded
Prima, the biggest Malaysian media together to call for – and offer assistance
conglomerate, returned to the black at the towards – reforms, including media
end of 2018 with a net profit of MYR68.2m, reform. For example, proposals to develop
but only because of a ‘a one-off gain in Malaysia’s state broadcaster, RTM (Radio
selling property’.104 Media Prima owns four Television Malaysia), into a genuine public
free-to-air TV channels including TV3, broadcaster were submitted but there
Malaysia’s number one station by audience appears to be reluctance to adopt them.
share, and three national news brands
Despite the talk, where the media is
including the New Straits Times, Berita
concerned, the government appears to be
Harian, and Harian Metro.
more keen on control and censorship than
Another conglomerate, Utusan Malaysia about developing a progressive policy. The
(Utusan), owned by the once-dominant sentencing of a Facebook user to ten years
political party, UMNO (United Malays and ten months imprisonment for insulting
National Organisation), is going through Islam and the Prophet Muhammad seems
uncertain times. In December 2018, its to illustrate this.106
executive chairman and UMNO politician,
104
www.theedgemarkets.com/article/media-prima-returns-black-fy18-gain-property-sale
105
www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/02/08/utusan-no-longer-under-umnos-direct-control/1721079
106
www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2189352/malaysian-jailed-more-10-years-insulting-islam-social-media
107
www.mumbrella.asia/2018/02/malaysian-media-mogul-jahabar-sadiq-millennials-pay-for-lattes-so-why-not-news
108
www.events.wan-ifra.org/sites/default/files/field_ecm_file/7.3_malaysiakinis_digital_subscription_journey_sean_ho.pdf
138 / 139

AND ONLINE TV3 News 47
13 Malaysiakini 44
21
Astro Awani (24 hour news) 13

29 The Star online 9
29
TOP BRANDS The Star 11
27 Astro Awani online 14
28
% Weekly usage NTV7 News 12
23 Berita Harian online 9
22
Radio Televisyen Malaysia (public broadcaster) 9

21 Yahoo! News 8
19
Weekly use
Berita Harian 12
21 Harian Metro online 7
18
TV, radio & print
Harian Metro 11
21 Free Malaysia Today 9
17
TV, radio & print TV9 News 9
19 Malaysia Today 11
16
Weekly use 8TV News 6

17 Sinar Harian 6
16
online brands Sinar Harian 8
15 Utusan online 6
14
More than 3 days per week Utusan Malaysia 9
15 CNN.com 8
14
online brands 7
14
CNN 8
14 BBC News online
Sin Chew Daily 4
13 Bernama.com 9
14
New Straits Times 7

12 Sin Chew online 3
12
Kosmo 7
12 The Malaysian Insight 7
10
BBC News 6
12 NST online 5
9
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Online and social media
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
remain the predominant59% 74%
79%
74%
74% 2017–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2017–19
71% Print
59%
sources of news for50%our
50%
online
59%
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
sample of Malaysian 50%news
40%
36%
40%
36%
40%
20%
86% 36% 87%
users. TV and print continue20%
20%
36%
20% 69%
to play an important0%0%
role for
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
67%
2018 2019
65%
56%
those not online. 0% 0% 2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
2017
2018 2019
54%2019
2018
2018 2019 50%TV 48%
45% 45%
Smartphones are the main 37%
access point for digital news
18%
with access from computers 14%
and tablets falling over time. 0%

2017 2018 2019
0%
2017 2018 2019
TRUST
In spite of the assurances of
greater media freedom by ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
the new government, and THIS BRAND
the impending launch of an News overall Radio Televisyen Malaysia

News I use 6.76
31% (+1)
7.21
36%
industry-run and regulated Astro Awani 6.52 7.18
Media Council, overall NTV7 6.49 7.08
trust is similar to last year. 33rd/38 TV3 News 6.3 6.55
24-hour TV news channel Malaysiakini 6.23 6.74
Astro Awani leads in the The Star 6.22 6.6
area of brand trust taking a Yahoo! News 6.18 6.98
News in search News in social Borneo Post

fresh, open, and even critical 5.9 6.95
28% 18%
Harian Metro 5.64 6.73
approach to discussing news
Utusan Malaysia 5.32 6.61
and current affairs.
PAY
16% -
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
51%
1 Facebook 60% (-4) 78%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 50% (-4) 80%
42%
3 YouTube 32% (-1) 72%
28%
4 Instagram 21% (+4) 48%
listen to
5 Twitter 14% (+1) 26%
PODCASTS in
6 Facebook Messenger 11% (-1) 37%

SINGAPORE STATISTICS
Population
5.8m
84%
Singapore is a strategic centre for

the English-speaking audience
in South East Asia and a media
hub for the entire region, with
a highly developed if tightly
controlled media market.
A new law to prohibit the spread
of ‘fake news’ has attracted
criticism over fears that it
could limit freedom of speech.
In May 2019, the Singapore parliament If approved, the proposed ‘fake news’ law in However, digital media start-up
passed a controversial law to limit the Singapore will be in addition to regulation mothership.sg inched its way to become
spread of ‘fake news’. The Protection from that already applies to local broadcast and the fourth most used news site in
Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill online media outlets. Starting in 2013, the Singapore, from 23% in 2018 to 29% this
was the culmination of an extensive series government introduced a new framework year. Founded in 2014, mothership.sg is
of public hearings by a parliamentary that required individual licensing for known for its bite-sized articles, many
select committee. Under this law, all online news sites that publish regular sourced from viral social media posts.
government ministers will have the power articles on Singapore news and current The site claims to get an average of 9.2m
to direct individuals, publishers, internet affairs, and have large numbers of monthly visitors per month, some 60% of whom
platforms, and mainstream media to visitors.113 Licensed sites are required are between 25 and 44 years old.
publish corrections to a false statement to remove content that is in breach of
if the executive deems the falsehood in content standards, such as pornographic, Online media account for the bulk of news
question is a threat to the public interest.109 extremist, or racially insensitive content, consumption in Singapore, as television
The government says the law is necessary within 24 hours and post a performance and print continue to see sharp declines.
to protect Singaporeans from harmful bond of SG$50,000, similar to the bond TV was down 4 percentage points, to 51%,
content – in particular inciting racial and requirement for television broadcasters. while print fell to 38%, down 5 percentage
religious disharmony. But critics say the points from 2018 after a 10 point drop the
bill gives the government too much power, Just two big media companies dominate year before. Digital news consumption
potentially threatening civil liberties.110 the production of local news and in recent appears to have stabilised in 2019 after
years have extended their dominance from years of rapid growth, with 86% saying
This law comes after online site States traditional to online platforms. MediaCorp, they get news online each week and 62%
Times Review voluntarily closed down owned by a state investment agency, via social media. Social media use for
in November 2018 after being ordered operates all local television stations in news decreased slightly for both Facebook
by the Singapore government to take Singapore. The website of its cable news and WhatsApp – platforms that have
down an article it published that linked network Channel News Asia is by far the borne the brunt of blame for the spread
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong with most popular online news source, used by of disinformation in Singapore – but
the 1Malaysia Development Berhad 46% in our survey. increased for both YouTube and Instagram.
(1MDB) corruption scandal. The Monetary
Authority of Singapore (MAS) had said such Meanwhile Singapore Press Holdings Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
insinuation was baseless and defamatory.111 (SPH), with close links to the ruling party, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication
Mr Lee also filed a defamation suit against has a virtual monopoly on the newspaper and Information, Nanyang Technological
another blogger who had shared the article industry and owns most local papers, University, Singapore
on Facebook.112 STR founder Alex Tan, who including Chinese-language Lianhe
operated the site while based in Australia, Zaobao, Malay-language Berita Harian, and
later announced that he was transferring Tamil-language Tamil Murasu. Its English-
control of the site to someone based in language broadsheet, the Straits Times, is in
Canada. STR has since been renamed as second place in online news at 37%, down
Singapore Herald and can still be accessed from 45% in 2018. Yahoo! News is the third
in Singapore. most frequently used news site (30%).
109
www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-how-online-news-sites-can-be-compelled-correct-take-down-fake-news
110
www.nytimes.com/2019/04/01/world/asia/singapore-fake-news-law.html
111
www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/states-times-review-founder-says-will-shut-down-website-10914264
112
www.mothership.sg/2018/12/leong-sze-hian-lee-hsien-loong-defamation/
113
www.gov.sg/factually/content/what-is-the-licensing-framework-for-online-news-sites-all-about
140 / 141

AND ONLINE The Straits Times 43
14 Channel News Asia online 46
16
MediaCorp Channel News Asia 13

36 Straits Times online 13
37
TOP BRANDS MediaCorp Channel 8 News 12
32 Yahoo! News 10
30
% Weekly usage MediaCorp Channel 5 News 14
29 Mothership.sg 14
29
The New Paper 9

20 Today online 12
26
Weekly use
CNN 7
15 STOMP 10
20
TV, radio & print
MediaCorp Radio News 5
16
TV, radio & print BBC News 5
12 All Singapore Stuff 8
15
Weekly use Lianhe Zaobao 5

11 The Online Citizen 8
14
online brands Lianhe Wanbao 4
8 CNN.com 7
14
More than 3 days per week Shin Min Daily 4
8 AsiaOne.com 6
12
online brands
MediaCorp Suria Berita 3 6 BuzzFeed News 6
9
Berita Harian 3 5 State Times Review 6

9
Newspapers or broadcasters 3 4 5
8
The Independent
from outside Singapore
Regional/local newspaper 2 4 TNP online 3
7
CHANGING MEDIA MediaCorp Tamil Seithi 2 Zaobao online 3

7
Print consumption has

declined significantly
100% over the
last few years while online
100% 79%and Online (incl. social media)
79%
74%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
social media continue to59%be
74%
79%
74%
74% 2017–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2017–19
71% Print
59%
the most important50% source
50%
59% of
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
news. In this high-tech
50% city 40%
36%
40%
36%
40%
20% 85% 36% 86%
state, mobile news consumption
20%
20%
36%
20% 72%
dominates with over 0%three-
0%
61%
57% 2019
quarters (76%) accessing
0%
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
53% 2019
50%2016 2017 2018
2013 2014 2015 2019 51% 50%TV 52%
45%
news via smartphone. 38%
21% 17%
TRUST 0%
2017 2018 2019
0%
2017 2018 2019
Trust in the news decreased

to 42% from 47% in 2018,
perhaps driven in part by
widespread political and ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
media discussion of ‘fake THIS BRAND
news’. Long-established News overall MediaCorp Channel News Asia

News I use 7.01
42% (-5)
7.32
45%
traditional media companies BBC News 6.9 7.46
tend to carry highest The Straits Times 6.88 7.24
levels of trust – along with 20th/38 MediaCorp Channel 5 News 6.81 7.14
international brands like the MediaCorp Channel 8 News 6.78 7.41
BBC and CNN. Digital-only CNN 6.72 6.95
brands like mothership.sg MediaCorp Radio News 6.6 7.12
News in search News in social Lianhe Zaobao

seem to lack the track record 6.3 7.08
30% 19%
The New Paper 6.18 6.79
and heritage that builds
credibility with news users.
Shin Min Daily 5.84 6.46
HuffPost 5.68 6.33
Mothership.sg 5.43 5.95
PAY The Online Citizen 5.23 5.89
16%
All Singapore Stuff 5.18 5.96
-
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
41%
1 Facebook 48% (-4) 74%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 41% (-1) 84%
28%
3 YouTube 27% (+2) 73%
17%
4 Instagram 15% (+4) 47%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Twitter 9% (-) 19%

SOUTH KOREA STATISTICS

Population
51m
93%
Home-grown portals have

become the leading destination
for news consumers in South
Korea in recent years, eroding the
business models of traditional
publishers. Now online video and
podcasts are beginning to disrupt
the broadcast sector.
Domestic portal sites such as Naver (66%)

and Daum (34%) have dominated online
news consumption for the last decade
with a convenient mix of news, blogs, has decreased from 28% in 2016 to 19% in a report about misconduct of a large
chat, shopping, games, and email. But 2019 according to our survey. The legacy corporation, leading to protests by young
with Korean users increasingly attracted media remain extremely concerned about reporters over the issue of lack of editorial
by video, YouTube use is significantly up their deteriorating finances but have independence from advertisers.
on last year (38% for news) and ahead of struggled to find sustainable solutions.
most other countries. In our survey, almost Discussions about raising the licence fee In an attempt to improve transparency
half of YouTube users (45%) said they have (currently about US$2.5 per household per around government advertising, the
spent more time with the network in the month) to support public broadcaster KBS National Assembly passed a new law
last year. Additional evidence comes from have not made any progress. A proposal governing the process. From the start of
Koreanclick.com, a web metrics company over tax exemption for newspaper 2019, the Korea Press Foundation has
affiliated with Nielsen, showing YouTube subscription has been submitted, but become the legally entrusted agency
mobile app users spending 1,094 minutes it has not yet been approved by the for placing advertisements on behalf of
on average in July 2018, whereas Naver app government. Paywalls on most news sites governmental and the public sector. The
users spent 700 minutes. Podcasts are also are not a viable option given that most KPF is required to invest their commission
surging in popularity with half (53%) saying people can access news for free through fees into a press fund to subsidise
they had listened at least once in the last online portals; just 10% pay for any journalism and media literacy.
month. Domestic platforms increasingly online news in Korea. Nevertheless, some
South Korea tends to be at the forefront of
complain about unfair competition and newspaper publishers have managed
new technologies that are ushering in the
that international platforms like Google, to diversify their revenue streams into
next wave of change. In this survey, 9% said
Facebook, and Netflix, do not pay enough ancillary businesses such as events and
they were using voice-activated speakers
tax in South Korea.114 conventions.
– almost double the level of a year ago.
Meanwhile, Naver has refocused its news Concerns about fake news and Still, few newsrooms have shown serious
offering with a stripped-down beta version misinformation (59%) are rising with interest in distributing news in this way.
of its mobile app carrying just a search bar concern focused on the distribution of Giant telecom companies like KT, SKT, and
and a button on the home page. Faced with politically extreme views on YouTube. LG U+ started 5G mobile services in April
criticism over the neutrality with which Last year, the government examined ways 2019. But it’s not yet clear what kind of
it selects news for audiences, Naver has to effectively regulate fake news online, content and services will benefit or
abandoned a default option selected by but concluded that any governmental how they might be relevant for news.
algorithms and staff and now asks users intervention might curtail freedom of
Sonho Kim
themselves to select news brands they expression. Fact-checking has become
Korea Press Foundation
want to see. Some critics fear this approach a common practice in many newsrooms
– if rolled out more fully – will favour the with Seoul National University (SNU)
biggest, most popular brands and could co-ordinating activity in around 30
squeeze out diversity. newsrooms using a common platform,
which in turn is financially supported by
As more people prefer to watch news Naver. Trust in news is among the lowest
videos on digital platforms, TV news again in our survey (22%). The reasons
consumption (67%) dropped by 7 points are clear with just a fifth (21%) agreeing
this year. In response, broadcasters are that the news media are doing a good
planning to open a 24-hour news channel job in monitoring powerful people and
on streaming services like YouTube. At businesses. In a related example, one
the same time, print news consumption leading newsroom decided not to print
114
www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2018/08/129_253245.html
142 / 143

AND ONLINE JTBC 50
15 Naver 66
11
KBS (public broadcaster) 16

49 Daum 9
34
TOP BRANDS YTN News 15
42 JTBC News online 9
26
% Weekly usage SBS News 16
40 KBS News online 8
23
MBC News 15
36 YTN News online 9
23
Weekly use
Yonhap TV News 11
27 MBC News online 8
17
TV, radio & print
MBN News 9
20 SBS News online 7
17
TV, radio & print TV Chosun News 9
20 Chosun Ilbo online 8
14
Weekly use Chosun Ilbo 11

19 Joongang Ilbo online 6
12
online brands Joongang Ilbo 11
19 TV Chosun News online 5
12
More than 3 days per week Channel A News 8
17 Hankyoreh Shinmun online 6
10
online brands
Dong-a Ilbo 8
12 Nate 5
10
Hankyoreh Shinmun 8
12 Yonhap News online 5
10
Maeil Business Newspaper 6

10 Channel A News online 5
10
Kyunghyang Shinmun 6
9 MBN News online 4
9

9 Dong-a Ilbo online 5
9
CHANGING MEDIA
100%
Audiences for traditional
79%
74%
79% SOURCES OF NEWS
75%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
TV news have started to 59%74%
79%
74%
74% 2016–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2016–19
71% Print
59%
dip partly due to more
50%
50%
59%
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
competition from long-
50% and 40%
36%
40%
36%
40%
86% 36%
short-form video online. 20%
20%
20%
36% 83%
20% 71% 70%
Readership of newspapers
0%
0%
is
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
67% 66%
60%
also significantly down
0% since
0% 2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2015 2016
2015 2016
50%2016
2015
2017
2017
2017
2018
2018
2018
2019
2019
2019 50%TV 52%
2016. More than two-thirds of
32%
our sample (70%) use a 28% 26%
19%
smartphone to access the 21% 17%
news each week. 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019
0%
2016 2017 2018 2019
TRUST due to an error in polling
Trust in the news in South

Korea is consistently ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
amongst the lowest in THIS BRAND
our survey, though trust News overall JTBC News

News I use 6.18
22% (-3)
7.03
26%
in individual news brands YTN News 5.97 6.68
is much higher. TV news KBS News 5.83 6.46
brands such as JTBC and 38th/38 SBS News 5.78 6.41
YTN tend to be trusted most MBC News 5.63 6.37
with popular newspapers Yonhap News 5.59 6.47
less trusted in general – MBN News 5.27 6.45
News in search News in social Hankyoreh Shinmun

even if they are often more 5.18 6.54
20% 15%
Kyunghyang Shinmun 5.14 6.45
trusted by those that use
Channel A News 4.99 6.37
the brands regularly.
Joongang Ilbo 4.91 6.04
Donga Ilbo 4.81 6.22
TV Chosun 4.57 6.31
PAY Chosun Ilbo 4.51 6.13
10% -
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
26%
1 YouTube 38% (+7) 68%

SHARE NEWS
2 Kakao Talk 28% (-11) 72%
53%
3 Facebook 22% (-3) 47%
16%
4 Instagram 8% (+1) 31%
listen to
5 Twitter 7% (-1) 19%
PODCASTS in
6 Kakao Story 7% (-5) 30%

TAIWAN STATISTICS
Population
24m
88%
The media environment in

Taiwan is among the freest and
most competitive in Asia, even
if mainland China continues to
exert economic and political
pressure on some outlets. The
political and media story of the
year has been the sudden rise of
a conservative populist mayor
with a national profile.
‘Goods will flow out, people will flood in, There have also been concerns about Niche outlets dedicated to quality journalism
and Kaohsiung will become a rich city’, possible interference from mainland China, have also seen modest successes. The
declared Han Kuo-yu, the newly elected with observers noting the large number Commonwealth Media Group, which grew
mayor of Taiwan’s third-largest city, in of foreign IP addresses amongst Han’s out of a respected business magazine, has
an inauguration ceremony shown across supporters on social media. It was also developed several digital news channels. The
Taiwan. The dark-horse mayoral candidate noted that the owners of some of the TV group enjoyed growing online use (13%) and
from the pro-unification Nationalist Party channels (like Chung Tien and TVBS) had relatively high trust (6.41) in our latest survey.
(KMT) captured national headlines with significant interests in China which may Meanwhile The Reporter, an independent
promises to focus on the economy, to be influencing their editorial line. At one news organisation, has continued to provide
show no tolerance for political protest, stage TVBS shelved an interview in which award-winning investigative stories on the
and to bypass long-standing laws barring the US de facto ambassador warned about environmental issues, children’s welfare, and
Chinese investment in real estate. Major external forces attempting to manipulate labour issues. The outlet has helped to create
news outlets rewarded Han’s populist public opinion. an ecosystem of public interest journalism by
rhetoric with coverage that drew still more working with freelance reporters.
attention, in an echo of successful populist In response to concerns, both citizens
campaigns in other countries. and politicians filed official complaints The spread of unreliable information
against Chung Tien with Taiwan’s National remains a problem in Taiwan. In September
At least two factors help to explain what Communications Commission (NCC), 2018, a false story about how the Chinese
came to be called the ‘Han Wave’. The charging that the network produced false Embassy in Japan had helped rescue a
first was the campaign’s media strategy news stories and violated professional number of Taiwanese tourists in an airport
in a pluralistic environment dominated norms in devoting disproportionate near Osaka after a typhoon was widely
by private sector, often partisan TV news coverage to Han’s campaign. It fined reported by the media. The Taiwanese
outlets. Han relied heavily on streams the network US$32,000 for breaching media blamed local officials for responding
carried live on social media, and supporters fact-checking principles. Chung Tien too slowly. The subsequent pressure on
were organised to disseminate pro-Han responded by accusing the agency the Taiwanese Embassy in Japan may have
messages online. These messages would of suppressing press freedom and contributed to the death of one official who
have reached large numbers of Taiwanese, attacking regulators personally in news later committed suicide.
given that 75% of our respondents used programmes, which in turn sparked
social media sites like Facebook and Line. a student demonstration against the Meanwhile Yahoo! News remains the most
media outlet for abusing its power. used online news source in Taiwan (51%
At the same time, Han’s positions drew weekly reach). It provides a convenient one-
glowing coverage from the pro-Beijing One bright spot is that this turmoil may stop for news from multiple news providers
Chung Tien News channel, which devoted improve the standing of public media, along with email, blogs, and games. Yahoo!
significant time to Han’s populist campaign. historically weak in Taiwan. The network does not provide direct revenue for news
The relationship proved mutually beneficial: is the most trusted in our survey, though providers but it does generate referral traffic
while Han gained attention, Chung Tien’s not competitive in terms of audience for publishers from the prominent links to
ratings climbed, with the share of (offline use: 16%). Media reform groups additional news stories. In the last two years,
respondents who use the network weekly have urged Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan to Yahoo! Taiwan has started to provide more
rising nearly 10 percentage points in our pass the Public Media Act in 2019, which of its own content including commentaries,
survey (to 44%). Other market-driven news would improve funding and support for online polls, and discussions.
outlets were forced to follow suit, covering major public media.
Han’s campaign heavily – and, according Lihyun Lin
to critics, often quite uncritically. National Taiwan University
144 / 145

AND ONLINE TVBS News 50
17 Yahoo! News 15
51
Chung Tien News 16

44 ETtoday online 20
49
TOP BRANDS Eastern Broadcasting News 16
42 TVBS News online 11
31
% Weekly usage Sanlih E-Television News 15
36 EBS News online 12
28
Apple Daily 15
30 Apple Daily online 13
28
Weekly use
Formosa TV News 13
30 ChungTien News online 9
25
TV, radio & print
Liberty Times 12
24 Sanlih E-Television News online 11
24
TV, radio & print ERA News 11
23 United Daily online 11
22
Weekly use China TV News 8

21 Storm Media 11
16
online brands United Daily News 9
19 Liberty Times online 7
16
More than 3 days per week Next TV 8
19 cnYes.com 8
15
online brands
Taiwan Television News 8
19 Common Wealth Magazine online 8
13
Unique Satellite TV News 8
17 Nownews 8
12
Chinese Television System News 9
16 China TV News online 5
11
Public Television Service News 8
16 Next Magazine online 7
11
CHANGING MEDIA China Times 9

15 Business Weekly online 6
11
Traditional media sources

such as television100%
and print
are becoming less100%
important
79%
74%
75%
71%
TV
TV DEVICES FOR NEWS
while digital and social 59%
74%
79%
74%
74% 2017–19
75%
71%
75%
71%
TV
Print
TV 2017–19
71% Print
59%
media have become 50%more
50%
59%
59% 40%
Print
Social media
Print
Social media
widely used. Taiwanese
50% love 88% 40%
40%
36%
40%
36%
Social media
20% 36%
their smartphones which 20%are
20% 77%
36%
20% 71%
used by more than 0% three-
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
65%
57%2019 58%
quarters (76%) of our0% survey
0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
50%2016 2017 2018 2019
2013 2014 2015 50%TV
55%
50%
sample to access news 41%
30%
content. Computers have 20% 17%
become relatively less
important over time. 0%
2017 2018 2019
0%
2017 2018 2019
TRUST
Trust in news is down 4
percentage points to 28% ALL THOSE THAT HAVEHEARD OF BRAND ALL THOSE THAT USE
with Taiwanese frequently THIS BRAND
exposed to misinformation News overall Public Television Service

News I use 6.55
28% (-4)
7.27
33%
through both mainstream and Common Wealth Magazine 6.41 6.84
social media. Fact-checking Business Weekly 6.25 7.12
Taiwan, an independent =34th/38 Economic Daily* 6.12 –
group, has publicly urged TVBS news 5.84 6.31
the social media giant Line Ettoday.net 5.81 5.96
to establish an internal United Daily 5.78 6.41
News in search News in social Central News Agency*

verification operation along 5.63 –
28% 19%
China Times 5.57 6.27
the lines of Facebook’s fact-
Chung Tien News 5.55 6.3
checking partnerships.
Apple Daily 5.42 5.95
The Reporter* 5.28 –
Storm Media 5.22 5.65
PAY Formosa TV News 5.04 5.97
12%
Liberty Times 5.01 5.92
-
* Some brands do not have trust scores for users of those brands (did not meet
minimum 50 threshold or did not specifically ask about the use of the brand)
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
42%
1 Line 57% (+4) 77%

SHARE NEWS
2 Facebook 54% (-2) 77%
38%
3 YouTube 43% (+5) 75%
23%
4 PTT (bulletin board) 12% (-5) 22%
listen to
PODCASTS in
6 Instagram 7% (-) 28%

146 / 147
Section 3 Africa
3.38 South Africa 148
Analysis by Country
Africa

SOUTH AFRICA STATISTICS

Population
57m
54%
There is a strong tradition of

highly trusted, independent
media in South Africa, but this is
increasingly under threat. Trust
is being eroded by a combination
of unethical business practices,
shoddy journalism, and escalating
misinformation affecting critical
national elections.
South Africa scores highly on the press

freedom index, and largely enjoys a
burning through a reservoir of legacy trust Revenue for news media has been
strong and ethical news environment.
established over many years. It remains to plummeting for several years now,
This is reflected in a 49% trust in media,
be seen if the appointment of a new editor with a 12% drop in ad spend last year
one of the highest in our survey, perhaps
will help. for television, 5.6% for radio, and 7.7%
bolstered by the media’s recent role in
for print.118 Despite 16% of respondents
exposing political patronage at the highest
In the run-up to the general election in claiming they pay for online news, this
levels. News24, The Daily Maverick, and
May, misinformation on social media figure will not be representative of South
the amaBhungane Center for Investigative
exploded, with news brands becoming Africans as a whole given our urban and
Journalism were three outlets that helped
both targets as well as sometimes highly educated online sample. Indeed,
uncover the corrupt relationship between
unwitting amplifiers. There has been a most of the local news organisations with
former president Jacob Zuma and the
surge in organisations training media and subscription paywalls decline to release
Guptas, a family implicated in the process
civil society to combat misinformation, and their figures, suggesting the number of
that South Africans are terming ‘state
platforms such as Google and Twitter also paying subscribers is still low. The surge of
capture’. In the wake of the scandal, two
allocated resources to help. Meanwhile goodwill engendered by the media’s role in
major news outlets that were owned by the
the Independent Electoral Commission exposing the Guptas has led to an upswing
Guptas, the New Age newspaper and the
partnered with the NGO Media Monitoring in reader donations to independent
24hr TV news station Afrotone (formerly
Africa to produce a system for reporting publications like the Daily Maverick and
ANN7), were forced to close for political
misinformation. The battle against the investigative unit amaBhungane.
and economic reasons.
misinformation is made more difficult by But this is an uncertain form of income,
Meanwhile Independent Media, one of the South Africans’ high usage of WhatsApp and with no sustainable revenue model
country’s largest media groups, has had (88% for general purposes, and a high 49% available, South African media houses are
the integrity of its news products severely for news among our online sample). facing a grim future.
compromised by its owner’s interference
The state broadcaster, the SABC, is only The big social media platforms have
in editorial policy, as well as its inability
the fourth most-trusted brand, perhaps a effectively won the battle for advertising
to pay back a questionably acquired loan
result of a protracted and damaging period revenue while resource-starved online
of over R1bn to SA’s Public Investment
of government interference and near- and broadcast news brands face fierce
Corporation.115 The company has undergone
catastrophic financial mismanagement.117 competition from international English-
several rounds of retrenchments, with a
On the positive side, it appears to be turning speaking brands like the BBC and CNN.
consequent decline in editorial standards.
a corner with the appointment of a new, Over the last ten years, newspaper
The Sunday Times weekly newspaper, long relatively apolitical board. The organisation circulation has declined by 49%,119 and
one of the country’s most trusted news still enjoys a high level of use for its the majority of media houses seem to
brands, was forced to apologise for lapses multilingual television news programming have no idea how to roll out successful
in journalistic rigour and the publication (50%) and for its radio news (29%). Online, hybrid subscriptions models that have
of several false scoops, and had some of its the SABC website also does well (45%) just worked elsewhere in the world.
journalism awards withdrawn.116 Despite behind the hugely popular News24 (70%),
a digital-born early entrant into the market Chris Roper
this, it still sits at number six on the list
which aggregates content from a number Code for Africa
of trusted news brands, but as with some
of the Independent titles, it appears to be of print brands such as City Press.
115
Jackie Cameron, ‘Iqbal Survé, Specialist in Media Capture AND State Capture’, BizNews, 15 Apr. 2019. https://www.biznews.com/undictated/2019/04/15/media-capture-iqbal-surve
116
www.ewn.co.za/2018/10/14/sunday-times-apologises-for-tainted-scoops
117
Riaan Grobler, ‘Motsoeneng’s “reckless mismanagement” caused SABC’s problems – Sanef’, News24, 17 Sept. 2018. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/motsoenengs-
reckless-mismanagement-caused-sabcs-problems-sanef-20180917
118
www.themediaonline.co.za/2018/03/gloomy-picture-for-tv-and-radio-advertising-spend-in-sa
119
Compiled by iSizwe Distributors from official data.
148 / 149

AND ONLINE SABC News (incl SABC 1,2,3) 50
11 News24 20
70
eNCA 11
38 SABC News online 14
45
TOP BRANDS Local radio news 11
30 ENCA 10
28
% Weekly usage SABC radio 12
19
BBC News 12
25 Daily Sun online 9
19
Weekly use
CNN 11
25 CNN.com 10
19
TV, radio & print
The Sunday Times 19
25 Netwerk24 6
15
TV, radio & print A regional or local newspaper 14
15
Weekly use Daily Sun 11

21 Eyewitness News (EWN) 7
15
online brands A community newspaper 10
15 TimesLive 8
14
More than 3 days per week Sowetan 8
13 Mail & Guardian online 8
13
online brands
The Citizen 8
12 IOL 6
13
City Press 8
12 The Citizen online 8
13
SAFM 6
12 City Press 8
13
702/Cape Talk 4
10 MyBroadband 6
11
The Star 7
10 Yahoo! News 6
11
SOURCES OF NEWS DEVICES FOR NEWS
TV Online (including social media) Computer Smartphone
68% 90% 58% 76%

Print Social Media Tablet
40% 72% 19%

TRUST
South African media has DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRUST BRAND TRUST SCORES (0-10)
a strong reputation for THIS BRAND
independence but political News overall

News I use News24 7.7
49%
7.91
and business interference
54%
eNCA 7.31 7.98
is an increasing concern. Business Day 7.16 7.78
The website News24 has =7th/38 SABC News 7.09 7.66
built credibility on the back Mail & Guardian 7.01 7.69
of investments in breaking Sunday Times 6.93 7.39
news. Tabloid newspaper EWN (Eye Witness News) 6.84 7.74
the Daily Sun is widely used News in search News in social City Press 6.5 7.65
43% 28%
but less well trusted. Cape Times 6.45 6.96
The Star 6.41 7.41
Daily Maverick 6.16 7.5
Sowetan 6.02 7.3
Daily Sun 5.38 6.34
PAY
16% -
pay for
ONLINE NEWS
59%
1 Facebook 59% 80%

SHARE NEWS
2 WhatsApp 49% 88%
43%
3 YouTube 35% 73%
39%
4 Twitter 20% 34%
listen to
5 Instagram 14% 41%
PODCASTS in
6 Facebook Messenger 14% 48%

150 / 151
Section 4
References and
Selected Publications
The authors welcome feedback on this report
and suggestions on how to improve our work
via reuters.institute@politics.ox.ac.uk as well
as potential partnerships and support for our
ongoing work.

References
Chua, S., Westlund, O. 2019. ‘Audience-Centric Engagement,

Collaboration Culture and Platform Counterbalancing:
A Longitudinal Study of Ongoing Sensemaking of Emerging
Technologies’, Media and Communication 7(1), 153–65.
Cornia, A., Sehl, A., Simon, F., Nielsen, R. K. 2017. Pay Models in
European News. Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study
of Journalism.
Cushion, S. 2018. ‘Journalism Under (Ideological) Threat:

Safeguarding and Enhancing Public Service Media into the
21st Century’, Journalism 20(1), 69–72.
Fletcher, R., Nielsen, R. K. 2018. ‘Are People Incidentally Exposed

to News on Social Media? A Comparative Analysis’, New Media
and Society, 20(7), 2450-2468.
Holt, K., Figenschou, T. U., Frischlish, L. 2019. ‘Key Dimensions

of Alternative News Media’, Digital Journalism.
Mudde, C. 2004. ‘The Populist Zeitgeist’, Government and Opposition

39(4), 542–63.
Nygaard, S. 2019. ‘The Appearance of Objectivity: How

Immigration-Critical Alternative Media Report the News’,
Journalism Practice 0(0), 1–17.
Pew Center. 2018. In Western Europe, Public Attitudes toward News

Media More Divided by Populist Views than Left–Right Ideology.
Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
Röper, H. 2018. ‘Zeitungsmarkt 2018: Pressekonzentration steigt

rasant Daten zur Konzentration der Tagespresse in Deutschland
Im I. Quartal 2018’, Media Perspektiven 5/2018, 216–34.
Schulz, A. 2019. ‘Where Populist Citizens Get the News:

An Investigation of News Audience Polarization along Populist
Attitudes in 11 Countries’, Communication Monographs 86(1),
88–111.
Vaccari, C., Valeriani, A. 2018. ‘Digital Political Talk and

Political Participation: Comparing Established and Third Wave
Democracies’, SAGE Open 8(2), 1–14.
Ziegele, M., Schultz, T., Jackob, N., Granow, V., Quiring, O., Schemer,
C. 2018. ‘Lügenpresse-Hysterie ebbt ab. Mainzer Langzeitstudie
“Medienvertrauen”’, Media Perspektiven 4/2018, 150–62.
152 / 153
Recent Reuters
Institute Publications
Felix M. Simon and Lucas Graves, Pay Models for Online News
in the US and Europe: 2019 Update (May 2019)
Joy Jenkins and Lucas Graves, Case Studies in Collaborative Local

Journalism (Apr. 2019)
Julie Posetti with Felix M. Simon and Nabeelah Shabbir, Lessons

in Innovation: How International News Organisations Combat
Disinformation through Mission-Driven Journalism (Apr. 2019)
Zeenab Aneez, Taberez Ahmed Neyazi, Antonis Kalogeropoulos,

and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, India Digital News Report (Mar. 2019)
Nic Newman, Journalism, Media and Technology Trends and

Predictions 2019 (Jan. 2019)
J. Scott Brennen, Philip N. Howard, and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen,

An Industry-Led Debate: How UK Media Cover Artificial Intelligence
(Dec. 2018)
Tom Nicholls, Nabeelah Shabbir, Lucas Graves, and Rasmus Kleis

Nielsen, Coming of Age: Developments in Digital-Born News Media in
Europe (Dec. 2018)
Nic Newman, The Future of Voice and the Implications for News
(Nov. 2018)
Antonis Kalogeropoulos and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Social

Inequalities in News Consumption (Oct. 2018)
Alessio Cornia, Annika Sehl, David A. L. Levy, and Rasmus

Kleis Nielsen, Private Sector News, Social Media Distribution, and
Algorithm Change (Sept. 2018)
Jason Vir, Kathryn Hall, (Kantar Media), News in Social Media and
Messaging Apps (Sept. 2018)
Lucas Graves, Understanding the Promise and Limits of Automated

Fact-Checking (Feb. 2018)
The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is dedicated to

exploring the future of journalism worldwide through debate,
engagement, and research. It is part of the Department of Politics
and International Relations at the University of Oxford, and
affiliated with Green Templeton College. Core funding comes from
the Thomson Reuters Foundation with additional support from a
wide range of other funders including academic funding bodies,
foundations, non-profits, and industry partners.
e: reuters.institute@politics.ox.ac.uk
w: reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
w: www.digitalnewsreport.org
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Foreword by Rasmus Kleis Nielsen 5 3.14 Italy 94

proportion of highly educated people than the general population.

Authorship and research

Nic Newman is Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute for

Dr Richard Fletcher is a Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute for the

Dr Antonis Kalogeropoulos is a Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute

Country-level commentary and additional insight around media

Additional expert analysis and interpretation of the survey data were

percentage points overall and 11 points in the UK, driven by

• The growth of the smartphone has also been driving the

PROPORTION OF DIGITAL-ONLY SUBSCRIBERS – 3,300,000 1,500,000 1,200,000*

Business Insider online poll conducted by Dynata, Feb. 2019 https://www.businessinsider.com/only-a-few-publishers-will-be-able-to-sell-subscriptions-at-scale-2019-3

At the same time as news publishers are asking for online

“The majority of the population probably cannot and will

GATEWAYS TO NEWS AND THE RISE 21

Behind the averages, however, we find very significant country

This year we’ve taken a fresh look at the importance of gateways

SMARTPHONES GROW FURTHER; RISE OF MOBILE MOBILE AGGREGATORS OFFER NEW

Quick Fix: Active Mode:

Omni is owned by the publisher Schibsted.

PROPORTION THAT USE WHATSAPP FOR NEWS – SELECTED MARKETS

India Digital News Report, Mar. 2019: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/india-digital-news-report

0% PROPORTION THAT USED INSTAGRAM AND SNAPCHAT

news journeys could be measured.

TRUST AND ATTITUDES TO THE NEWS MEDIA

PROPORTION THAT TRUST MOST NEWS FROM EACH MOST

Rated on 0–10 scale, all those who have heard of brand

Netherlands and Denmark. USA: Left trust has increased in US

USA 32% 32% – 0%

12 country average 47% 44% -4 UK: Right trust in the UK news

Digging into the detail, we find an increase in trust (+18pp) 0%

MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION

“I think I’m much more limited in the news that I access

(right-wing), Fria Tider in Sweden (right-wing), and the Canary 12 Awareness

MAIN SOURCE OF NEWS BY POPULIST ATTITUDES – USA

BRAZIL Populist Non-Populist

Populists in the United States are no less or more likely to use

NEWS AVOIDANCE AND NEWS OVERLOAD BREXIT BLUES

is often seen as a duty.

PROPORTION THAT OFTEN OR SOMETIMES ACTIVELY Negative impact on my mood 58

There are interesting country differences in terms of these

publishers like Denmark (20%) and the Czech Republic (16%).

28% BEST REPUTATION WORST REPUTATION

EVALUATIONS OF THE NEWS MEDIA Portugal 51% Korea 21%

PROPORTION THAT THINK THE MEDIA IS OFTEN TOO BROKEN NEWS?

a screen. You’re letting it wash over you.”

more screens in their lives.

69% 23% 25%

Amazon Show, Spot 4% Google Home Hub (Screen)

Apple HomePod 5% 12%

It is worth pointing out that more than a third (35%) of our

CONCLUSION A number of media companies are unlikely to make this difficult

Wider changes are also in the air as subscription-based bundled

Despite the greater opportunities for paid content, it is likely that

2.1 Paying for News and the

0% 25% 50% 75%

Indeed, if we remove public service media from the analysis, we see

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVERAGE TRUST SCORES OF THOSE

2.2 Groups and Private Networks

PROPORTION THAT USE EACH MESSAGING APP FOR NEWS –

Yellow Vest protests in France were in part co-ordinated through a series

Foreword by Rasmus Kleis Nielsen 5 3.14 Italy 94