Ofcom report into news consumption 2015

1) Read this Ofcom 2015 report on the consumption of news in the UK. Note down the key statistics and changes that Ofcom document.

2.2 - "Platforms used for news nowadays"

• 2/3 of adults say they use TV for news, compared to 3/4 in 2014
• 89% of adults in the UK follow the news
• 1 in 10 adults say they do not follow the news compared to 5% in 2014 and 7%  in 2013
• Of the four main platforms that people access news on 3 in 10 respondents use only one platform (Percentages below) 

1. 19% use TV alone
2. 11% only use the internet
3. 3% use radio only
4. 2% use newspapers only (Soon to be a distant memory with the decline of the print industry)

2.3 - "Multiple and single sourcing of news"

• 44% of TV users said they used just one source of news (42% in 2014) compared with 43% of internet users  

          

2) What are the most popular platforms for audiences to access news and how has this changed in recent years?

TV is the most popular platform for audiences to access the news with 67% of UK adults saying they use the TV as a source of news. Though, this has changed since 2014 with a 8% point decrease to 75%, followed on from a 3% point decrease between 2013 (78%) and 2014. However, this has changed dramatically because more and more of us are getting our news online rather than via the TV. Though, according to the Ofcom report the number of people who use the internet or apps to get the news has remained steady since 2014 at 41% in comparison with just under a 1/3 in 2013. Newspapers are used by 31% which represents a decrease of 9% since 2014 and 2013, when 40% of adults in the UK used newspapers. The use of the radio for the news has also decreased from 36% in 2014 to 32% in 2015. Some people struggle to find fault with the internet and instantly believe what it feeds them. We also struggle to fault its speed etc, whereas with the radio and even TV we don't bother to listen as it could experience several technical glitches. 

Over the years I think that the platforms to access news on have changed dramatically over the past few years, as I said we use the internet!, proven by Ofcom statistics. 

• 55+ year olds are more likely to use TV, newspapers and radio for news consumption 
• 16- 24 year olds are more likely to use the internet.   

3) How do different age demographics access news in the UK?

• 51% of people aged 16- 24 years old use TV for news compared to 86% aged 55+
• Those aged 55+ years old are more likely than 16- 24 year olds to use the TV, newspapers or radio for news consumption. 16- 24 year olds are more accustom to getting their news via social media which is a very popular option as per the Ofcom report
• Consumption of news through newspapers is again more used among 55+ year olds (21% vs 44%)
• Consumption of news online through a variety of devices is higher for those aged 16-24 years old (59%) than over 55s at 23% 

4) Does socio-economic status change attitudes to news? If so, how?
People of the AB socio - economic status in comparison with those in the DE socio economic group are more likely consume news on any of the four main platforms. 

People's socio economic status changes attitudes towards the news because  

  
5) How many different sources of news are used on average? How does differ between different groups?

Before the developments in new and digital media, the TV was pretty much the only source of news used with BBC News to start with which was around to cover the war and other really important events in British History. However, we now access news in a variety of different ways from our phones, to the computer and even the good old TV. The average number of sources that people use for news has remained consistent year on year. The number of people who ONLY use one source remained at a steady level since 2014:

• 44% of TV users, USE ONLY THE TV TO SOURCE NEWS (42% in 2014)
• 43% of internet users, USE ONLY THE INTERNET TO SOURCE NEWS (45% in 2014)
• 34% of newspaper readers, USE ONLY NEWSPAPERS TO SOURCE NEWS (35% in 2014)
• 60% of radio users, USE ONLY THE RADIO TO SOURCE NEWS (62% in 2014)

On average there are SIX main sources of news four of which are on TV.

1.  BBC One: MOST USED SOURCE at 48%
2. ITV/ ITV Wales/ UTV/ STV News at 27%
3. The BBC website or app at 23%
4. The BBC News Channel at 14%
5. Sky News channel at 12% & Facebook with a reach of 12% among UK adults
6. Radio at 8%: Most popular stations are; BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2

Then at a minuscule 6% is newspapers with the most popular two sources being The Sun and The Daily Mail.  

The consumption of news through the different sources differs greatly between the different age groups as those of the younger age (teenagers) consume news through online means most notably through social media such as Facebook. Whereas the older generation (55+ years old) prefer to stick to means that they know to consume news such as through the TV and newspapers, but consuming newspapers is likely to be a thing of the past for them soon if the print industry continues to decline the way it has and social media continues to grow the way that it has. 

6) How has news consumption through television changed in recent years?

Consumption through TV for news has changed significantly over the years, as more and more of us are getting the news from other sources namely social media but also through word of mouth when we discuss news we find with our friends and family. People aged 16- 24 years old each watch 25 hours of news on TV in 2014 compared with those aged 55 andover who watch 189 hours each. The report says that total hours of national and international news viewing have decreased since 2013. 

BARB (Broadcasters Audience Research Board) show that each adult watched 108 hours of national and international news on TV in 2014, which is a decrease of seven hours since 2013 when the average was 115 hours. 

The majority of TV news viewing in 2014 was on BBC One or BBC two with 65.8% of the audience viewing news here, followed by another 12.9% on ITV viewing news here. Put together consumption of the news on BBC main channels and BBC News accounts for 77% of the overall viewing of the genre. 

7) How much has news consumption through newspapers declined since 2005?

News consumption through newspapers has declined heavily since 2005. The reach of national newspapers has decreased by 27% points among adults since '05, from 72.4% in 2005 to 45.4% in 2015. Only 31% of the Ofcom research respondents said they consumed news through a newspaper. 

8) How does newspaper reach differ by age group?

The overall reach of newspapers across all age groups, has declined greatly due to the decline in the print medium. We are all using digital means to get our news rather than printed newspapers. As per the Ofcom report reach of newspapers by age group found that 29.3% of 15-24 year olds are print newspaper readers compared to 67.9% of over 65s who are newspaper readers.   

9) Which are the most popular newspapers and websites in the UK? What do you know about those newspapers' political viewpoints?

1. Print and online combined The Daily Mail  (5.5 million users, compared to 6 million in 2014)
2. The Sun (5.2 million users, compared to 5.8 million in 2014)

With a bit of research and my own knowledge I know that THE DAILY MAIL is a daily conservative middle market newspaper. Then, THE SUN takes a conservative political alignment.  

10) How does online news consumption differ for age, gender and socio-economic status?

Age

• Four in ten (41%) UK adults use the internet for news
• Six in ten (59% ) of UK adults aged 16-24  use the internet or apps for news
• 55% of those aged 55+ use the internet for news

Gender

• Men likely to admit to using the internet for news more than woman (45% vs 37%) 

Socio -  economic

• 53% of ABC1 use online means for accessing news
• Compared to 32% of  C2DE 

Summarized, younger generations use online means more to access the news than the older generations. Those of a lower socio economic backgrounds, however do not use online means as much this could possibly be because they do not have the financial means to have access to a electronic device around the clock. 

11) What percentage of people use social media to access news? How does this differ by age and socio-economic status?

• More than two in five (43%) of respondents use social media to access the news

HOWEVER.... BY AGE GROUP AND SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS THIS VARIES

• 61% of 16- 24 year old who use the internet/apps for news say they also use social media sites most notably Facebook. Compared to just over a quarter of 55+ year old (26%).
• Those of DE socio economic group are more likely than those of AB group to use social media sites for news (52% vs 40%) 
• AB are more likely than DE's to use websites or apps of newspapers or social media pages  

12) What percentage of users only use social media sites for their news?

• 10% of online news users only use social media sties for news rising to 16% of those aged 16- 24 years 
• Most popular social media site used for news is Facebook with 29% of respondents saying they use it to consume the news.

13) What are the most popular online sites for news?

• BBC News website: 56% of online news readers get news here
• Guardian/Observer
• Google search engine at 15%
• Sky News website at 14%

14) What percentage of 16-24 year olds access news mostly from social media?

• 61% of 16 - 24 year olds access the news mostly from social media

15) How do audiences find stories online? Do you follow links or go to the homepage of the news provider?

• Of those who use the internet or apps for news 51% say they use the website or apps of TV and radio companies to get news
• 43% say they use social media sites , most popular is Facebook
• 37% say they use search engines

Personally, I follow links to news companies main websites on the story that is posted on Twitter. Its rare but if I am on the news companies website already for another reason (i.e. checking weather) then I may go via the main homepage to find local London news. 

New/digital media: audience and institution

16) What are the benefits for audiences from the changes new and digital media have had on the news industry?

• Access content 24 hours a day
• Catch up/on demand services online
• Easier
• More convenient
• Encouraged younger generations to consume news (Source they are used to being social media)

17) What are the benefits for institutions from the changes new and digital media have had on the news industry?

• Wider target audience to reach
• Increase readership
• Increase consumption 
• Those that still print newspapers - INCREASE IN SALES

18) What are the downsides for audiences as a result of new and digital media in news?

• Incorrect information - not censored: NO GATEKEEPERS
• Multiple opinions that might alter judgement
• Stories aren't from accurate and truthful sources 

19) What are the downsides for institutions as a result of new and digital media in news?

• Printed papers - Decrease in sales
• Loss of audience to stories developed from citizen journalists posted on social media
• Difficult for institutions to keep up with what is being posted online 

20) Who has benefited most from the changes new and digital media have had on the news industry - audiences or institutions?

In my opinion, I think that audiences have benefited the most from the changes in NDM because accessing the news is a lot more convenient particularly to suit those with busy schedules who still wish to access the news in some way shape or form. Audiences have also benefited because access to news is now free through online sites and through the remaining printed newspapers. This is good as some people cannot afford to go and buy a £1.00 - £1.50 newspaper everyday. Institutions on the other hand, have faced problems with the NDM developments particularly in printed newspapers as they have been pushed out of the marketplace due to online means. Institutions have also suffered because of citizen journalists the news corporations have not been able to pump out news stories at the same rate as citizen journalists as news corporations have to get the information passed through gatekeepers first. As a result, people are not taking interest in what news organisations are trying to tell us as they often are no longer the first to the breaking news story.

Website Reference

The rise of social media as a source of news