News participation is declining

Evidence from 46 countries between 2015 and 2022

Bibliographic Data

ID6443353
AuthorsSacha Altay (0000-0002-2839-7375, University of Zurich, corresponding author), Richard Fletcher (0000-0002-5496-2112, University of Oxford), R K Nielsen (0000-0002-3376-4918, University of Oxford)
Year2024
Volume27
Issue9
Pages5110-5131
Publication date2024-05-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew Media & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-4448 • E-ISSN: 1461-7315
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14614448241247822
OpenAlexW4396898461
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited47

Digital media are often praised for having offered new ways to participate with news. But how has participation with news changed in recent years? A pre-registered analysis of survey data from 2015 to 2022 in 46 countries ( N = 577,859) shows that participation with news has declined. This decrease is observed in most countries and for most forms of participation, including liking, sharing, commenting on news on social media and talking about the news offline. The only form of participation that has increased is news sharing via private messaging apps. Overall, participation with news was higher among younger people, the university-educated, those with high interest in news and those with low trust in news. Over time, participation has declined more for those with lower trust in news, those without a bachelor’s degree and for women. Within countries, increases in political polarization were associated with lower participation

Demographic economics · Economics · Political science · Economic Growth and Development · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication

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