The Decline in Print Media

groups are much more likely to use the

internet and social media for news, whereas their older counterparts favour print, radio and TV. Blog tasks: The decline in print media

Part 1: Ofcom report into news consumption

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

1) 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?  

1.Different age groups consume new very differently: younger age groups are much more likely to use the

internet and social media for news, whereas their older counterparts favour print, radio and TV.

This statement shows how technology has overtaken the world and especially the young generation as they believe the media more. 

2. Attitudes towards news generally remain consistent with 2020 (across measures such as quality, accuracy,

trustworthiness and impartiality) for TV, radio, social media, newspapers and online, with TV performing

strongest, and social media performing least well.

3.Social media is overtaking traditional channels for news among teens. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are now

their top three most used sources for news. Meanwhile many sources have seen decreases since 2021, with reach

of BBC One/Two decreasing to 24% in 2022 (down from 35% in 2021). 

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

• The reach of print newspapers is decreasing, while online newspapers reach remains steady.
• The Daily Mail/ Mail on Sunday remains the most widely read print news title overall.
• The Guardian/Observer and Daily Mail on Sunday are the most widely and digital news titles.
• The decline in print newspapers reach has been accelerated by the pandemic, with readership dropping from 47% in 202 to 38% in 2022.
• Younger age groups are more likely to access newspapers online rather than in print, effectively doubling their reach when online readership is included.  

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

Over the recent years newspapers have slowly been decreasing and we can see that they have dropped massively compared to television and internet.

4) 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? 

People aged 75 or over were far more likely to read a newspaper everyday, whilst daily app/ website usage for news is the highest among those aged 25-44. three quarters of adults aged 75 and over never use an app or website to access the news, however half of this age group read a newspaper at least once a day.

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

Most popular titles: Daily Mail, The Sun 

6) Now look at the total newspaper reach of print and online on page 39. How has this decreased over the last three years?
We can see that there are more used of print over the years then website/ apps as ore of the older generationn may prefer the tradtional print as it brings back nostalgia 

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):

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

• Print media has seen a significant decline due to the rise of digital media 
• The internet has allowed audiences to access news for free, reducing the demand for paid newspapers 
• Newspapers have struggled to maintain advertising revenue as more business invest in digital ads 

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

• The independent ceased printing in 2016, transitioning to a digital only format
• Thew newspapers faced financial difficulties and was sold for a nominal £1 in 2010 
• Its circulation was consistently lower than major competitors like The Sun and The Daily Mail

3) What was the Independent newspaper famous for?

• It was known for being politically neutral and free from proprietorial influence.
• The paper had a reputation for bold, campaigning front pages.

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

He claimed that "the future is digital" and that the transition would preserve The Independent’s brand.

He believed the move would allow investment in high-quality journalism while reaching a larger audience online.

5) How do online newspapers make money?

Advertising revenue (banner ads, sponsored content).

Subscription-based models (e.g., The Guardian asks for voluntary contributions).

Paywalls (e.g., The Times and The Telegraph require paid subscriptions).

• Sponsored content and partnerships with brands.

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

He warned that The Independent’s unique identity, variety of voices, and originality would be difficult to replicate online.

He suggested that the digital format may struggle to maintain the paper’s iconoclastic and distinctive feel.

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

Fake news spreads easily on social media and is sometimes more widely shared than real news.

Some websites mimic reputable news sources to spread misinformation.

• ‘Post-truth’ refers to a world where emotions and personal beliefs are more influential than objective facts in shaping public opinion

8) 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?

The decline in print media reflects changing consumer habits, but it raises concerns about quality journalism being undervalued.

Free news can be beneficial for accessibility but risks reducing the funding available for investigative journalism.

The loss of printed newspapers may impact older readers who are less engaged with digital platforms.