The decline in print media

 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 5 & 6. Pick three that you think are interesting and bullet point them here. Why did you pick those three in particular?  

More people consume news online than via TV, radio, or newspapers. Online platforms are now the main way people access news, showing a clear shift from traditional media.

The BBC remains the most-used news provider in the UK. Despite the rise of online intermediaries, audiences still turn to trusted public service broadcasters for news.

Traditional providers are rated higher for trust, accuracy, and impartiality than online sources. Even though online and social media are popular for accessing news, people perceive traditional news outlets as more reliable.

2) Now look at the motivations for following news which differs by age on pages 7 & 8. What are the main reasons people gave for following news? What are the percentages? 

To know what is happening across the UK – 47%

To keep up with local/regional news – 45%

To follow international/world news – 45%

3) Look at the platforms used, by age on page 9. What trends do you notice based on the platforms used and by the different age groups?

TV is the most used platform overall. Newspaper usage is declining, especially among younger audiences. Younger people rely more on online platforms and social media.

4) Look at how online news continues to be a key platform for receiving news on page 14. How does the internet enable audiences to access the news in different ways? Can you provide any examples of news organisations with percentages? 

The internet allows audiences to access news in many ways: through established publishers like the BBC, digital press titles, or online intermediaries like Meta and Google. Example: 39% of UK adults use Meta services as news intermediaries.

5) Look at the news brands (print newspapers and digital offerings) on page 20. Can you provide percentages of readership of print vs. online?

Online news: 71% of adults access news digitally.

Print newspapers: only 12–22% of adults still read them. 

6) Looking again at page 20 for news brands - how are print newspapers rated by their metrics - can you offer the different metrics with percentages? 

 

Accuracy: 74% of regular readers rate newspapers highly (7–10).

Impartiality: 70% rated highly.

Trustworthiness: 73% rated highly.

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 used to be the main source of news, but its audience has steadily declined with the rise of online platforms.

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

The Independent shows the decline clearly: it was a successful broadsheet, but rising costs and competition from digital news made print unsustainable.

3) What was the Independent newspaper famous for?

Bold, campaigning, and unorthodox front pages.

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

In February 2016, he confirmed that the Independent would stop printing the following month and focus entirely online.

5) How do online newspapers make money?

Mainly through readership numbers, advertising revenue, and digital subscriptions.

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

That it could lead to issues with fake news and maintaining credibility.

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

Fake news spreads easily online, challenging trust in journalism.

‘Post-truth’ refers to a culture where emotions and personal beliefs matter more than objective facts.

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?

Online news should be accessible to everyone and ideally free.

While it’s sad to see iconic print newspapers like the Independent disappear, it reflects changing times and audience habits.