Beyond Print, Radio & TV

 

Print, radio, and television. Those were the options for news consumption only a few decades ago. Fast forward to today and the options appear endless. Digital newspapers outweigh print. Audio podcasts are the new radio. News websites and social media are available 24/7 compared to the nightly news hour.

No Two Technologies are the Same

Consumer's preference in digital content varies, but 84% of U.S. adults say the often or sometimes get news from a digital device. One platform may be preferred depending on the circumstance. For example, audio podcasts are excellent for news consumption when driving. At home on a tablet, social media may be preferred. What are adults using to consume their news?

1. News websites or apps
2. Search engine
3. Social media
4. Podcasts

Consumer Controls Consumption

The change in our news consumption has brought a higher level of consumer participation. Consumers can take part in the news and engage through sharing or commenting. Notifications are available from various platforms for those that want the news delivered to them. The user is determining the content they see and want. 

In turn, content creators are expected to create using various forms of multimedia to meet the needs of the consumer. Local and national news now create content for television, web, video, and social media. Though 31% of U.S. adults get regularly get their news from Facebook, covering each platform is still key to reaching the audience.

Real-time updates have replaced waiting for a specific time or place to get the news. Print, radio, and television are not dead when it comes to news. But they are having a hard time competing with our need for immediacy.