THE DECLINE IN PRINT MEDIA!

 

THE DECLINE IN PRINT MEDIA:

Part 1: Ofcom report into news consumption 2022

Read this Ofcom 2022 report on the consumption of news in the UK and answer the following questions (bullet points/short answers are fine):

Look at the headlines from the report on page 6. Pick three that you think are interesting and bullet point them here. Why did you pick those three in particular?  

• Reach of print/online newspapers has seen a decrease from 2020 (47%) to 2022 (38%)
• TikTok’s reach for news has increased from 2020 (1%) to 2022 (7%).
• Different age groups consume news very differently.

I picked these because they seem to be the common and most talked about conversations about how the future looks like. for example how the future will only be internet-based which seems to be on the news as well.

Look at the overall summary for adults on pages 7-8. What are the key points on newspapers? 

• While the reach of print newspapers is decreasing, online newspaper reach remains steady.

• The Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday remains the most widely-read print news title overall, whilst The Guardian/Observer and Daily

Mail/Mail on Sunday are the most widely-read digital titles.

Look at the statistics on page 13. What do you notice about newspapers and how has it changed in recent years?

Reach of print has decreased since 2020 with the trend seen pre-pandemic possibly accelerating. The most used for news currently is television which is at 74%.

Now look at the age demographics for news consumption on page 16. What age demographic groups are most and least likely to read newspapers and what are the percentages? 

51% of adults aged 75+ are most likely reading printed version of newspapers. Although it does mention that about 95% of 75+ adult view the news through television

Look at the newspaper-specific data on page 36. Which are the most popular newspaper titles? 

1. Daily mail 
2. The sun 
3. The metro

Now look at the total newspaper reach of print and online on page 39. How has this decreased over the last three years?

Increase uses of website and apps has led to the decrease us of print magazine 

Part 2: Factsheet - The death of print media

Go to our Media Factsheet archive and open Factsheet 165: The death of print media. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets or you can find it online here - you'll need to log in using your Greenford Google login.

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks (bullet points/short answers are fine):

What has happened to print media in the last 30 years?

Print media was one of the main sources of information for audiences. The desire for information is not a new one.

Why is the Independent newspaper such a good case study for the decline in print media?

Because it highlights the challenges faced by traditional newspapers in the digital age. The rise of online news platforms and changing reader preferences have contributed to the decline in print circulation

What was the Independent newspaper famous for?

For its independent and investigative journalism covering a wide range of topics including politics, current affairs, culture and more

What did the then-owner of the Independent, Evgeny Lebedev, say about the newspaper's digital-only future?

He believed that transitioning to an online platform would allow the independent to reach a wider audience and adapt to the changing media landscape. He saw the potential for growth and innovation in the digital realm.

How do online newspapers make money?

With the end of a printed version of the Independent came an increase in profits. In February 2016, the Independent had 15.8m unique users rising to 21m in June 2016 (in the lead up to the referendum on EU membership), falling to 16.2m in August 2016 (ComScore). This, the company claimed, validated their decision to go online-only as it was the first time the Independent had turned a profit in 20 years, with advertising revenues growing 45% year on year.

What did the Independent's longest-serving editor Simon Kelner warn regarding the switch to digital?

Simon Kelner, the paper’s longest- serving editor said, “For me, the power of the Independent came from the variety of voices, the originality in its design and the iconoclastic feel of the paper. It is very difficult to replicate that in digital form. And it is even more difficult to do that with a paper like the Independent.” There is also a question of audience reach.

What is the concern with fake news? What does 'post-truth' refer to?

The concern over the impact of the Internet news reporting is not new, but 2016’s US presidential election brought the issue into sharp focus. The terms ‘fake news’ and ‘post-truth’ are now familiar in the contemporary vernacular. Is the death of print media the cause for fake news? Possibly. Online news sites are easy to set up, and the simple news format is easy to replicate.

What is your view on the decline in print media? Should news be free? Is it a concern that established media brands such as the Independent can no longer afford to exist as a printed newspaper?

My view on the decline in print media is that it was bound to happen because of the advanced technology gen z is more towards in which they only access news via their phone or via their friends and family who have also accessed it via phone.In my opinion producing high quality journalism requires resources and funding which requires revenue from subscription to support their operations.