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A recent report by the University of Oxford's Reuters Institute reveals that over one-third of individuals worldwide admit to frequently or occasionally avoiding the news. The 2023 Reuters Institute Digital News Report conducted a survey with over 90,000 participants from various regions, aiming to understand their news consumption habits and attitudes.
Among the findings, it was discovered that 36% of respondents actively try to evade news content. Additionally, less than half of the participants expressed a strong or extremely high interest in the news, marking a decline from 63% recorded in 2017.
In Japan, a significant 17% of those surveyed reported not having consumed any news from television, newspapers, radio, or social media within the past week, the highest proportion among all countries studied.
The report from the Reuters Institute suggests that factors such as rising living costs and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have not resulted in increased news engagement. It further speculates that individuals may be deliberately avoiding distressing news to safeguard their mental well-being.
Trust in the news has also experienced a decline. On average, 40% of respondents indicated that they trust most news sources most of the time, a drop of two percentage points from the previous year's data. More than half of the participants expressed concerns about distinguishing between real and fake news.
Regarding news sources, the report highlights that younger individuals, particularly those using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, tend to pay more attention to celebrities and influencers rather than journalists.
Overall, the study sheds light on the global trend of news avoidance, decreasing interest in news, declining trust in media, and the impact of digital platforms on news consumption behaviors, particularly among younger demographics.
Questions
1.
Do you know anyone who is extremely interested in the news?
2. Have there been any news stories recently that you followed closely?
3. How has the way you consume news changed over the years?
4. What news sources do you consider to be the most reliable?
5. Do you think you'd make a good journalist?
