Reuters Digital News Report 2020
- Sameeha Junejo and Sarah Nasir
- Aug 9, 2020
- 2 min read
This year’s Reuter’s Digital News Report found a substantial increase in news consumption for mainstream media. Television news and online sources saw a significant increase in consumption. Consumption of printed newspapers fell, accelerating the shift to an all-digital future.
According to the report, industry data indicates strong traffic increases for online news with the most trusted brands often benefitting disproportionately.
There was a change in media habits during the lockdowns which accelerated the use of new digital tools such as video conferencing and online groups. The use of online and social media substantially increased in most countries. This will likely speed up the shift to digital, despite an increase in traditional media news consumption.
The report also highlights the need for publishers to focus on building audiences through third party platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Snapchat.
According to the report, the COVID-19 crisis will lead to more cost-cutting, consolidation and even faster changes in business models. Some publications report growth in digital subscriptions while some report a decline in advertising revenue. This puts the focus on online reader payment models such as subscription, membership, donation and micropayment. More publishers have started charging for content or tightening paywalls.
COVID-19 is likely to hit local news providers hardest due to their continuing dependence on both print and digital advertising. The value that people place on their local newspaper is closely correlated with higher subscription and donation rates for local news. Local newspapers and their websites are valued more in some countries than others.
If you have any experiences or metrics that would support these elements, we would love to hear from you.
We're a group of graduate business students exploring the importance of local newspapers and news sites, with a focus on sustainability and related business practices. We're hoping to build a community of stakeholders to help and support our research. Please reach out if you're available for an interview to share your thoughts and experiences on the topic.
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