Newspapers: The decline in print media

 

Newspapers: The decline in print media

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?

• Six in ten UK adults use online intermediaries (social media, search engines or news aggregators) for news. Meta (39%) and Google (34%) are the most commonly used.
  because, considering how embedded social media is in everyday life, I expected the percentage to be even higher.

• The BBC reaches 39% of 12–15-year-olds, while TikTok (31%), YouTube (30%), Instagram (24%) and Facebook (21%) are the most-used individual platforms for news.

•  because although the BBC remains the most reached provider overall, platforms like TikTok are extremely close behind.

• 52% of 12–15-year-olds who use social media for news believe it is trustworthy, compared to 82% for TV and 78% for radio. Trust in social media news has risen from 45% in 2024 to 52% in 2025.

• because trust in social media news is increasing rather than declining, despite ongoing concerns about misinformation.

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 going on across the UK – 47%

• To know what is happening in their region – 45%

• To know what is happening around the world – 45%

However those aged 75+ show significantly higher engagement (UK: 61%, region: 59%, world: 61%) compared to 16–24-year-olds (UK: 32%, region: 32%, world: 33%).

For 16–24-year-olds, motivations are more mixed:

• To pass the time – 21%

• For entertainment – 18%

• To support work or studies – 18%

This suggests younger audiences approach news in a more casual way compared to older audiences.

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?

There is a clear age divide in platform use. Social media is most dominant among 16–24-year-olds, while print is least used by this group (10%).

Across all adults (16+), online news is slightly ahead at 70%, closely followed by TV at 68%, suggesting traditional broadcast news remains highly relevant. Print is the least used overall, indicating its continued decline.

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?

71% of adults access news online, whether through social media, search engines or news services. The internet allows audiences to see news passively through feeds and algorithms, as well as actively search for specific stories. It also gives personalised news consumption.

For example:

• BBC Online reaches 59%.

• Daily Mail reaches 14%, down from 19% in 2024.

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

• Daily Mail

  • 17% Print only

  • 13% Online only

  • 3% Both

• The Guardian

  • 9% Print only

  • 18% Online only

  • 4% Both

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?

Print newspapers are generally rated more highly for trust and accuracy compared to online and social media sources. Older audiences in particular view print as more reliable and younger audiences also recognise its credibility despite engaging with it less frequently.

Part 2: Factsheet – The death of print media

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

Over the past three decades, print media has experienced a significant decline in circulation and revenue. While radio had limited impact, the rise of television news began shifting audiences away from newspapers. The most dramatic change came with the internet, which provides instant, free access to news.

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

The Independent is a strong case study because it was sold in 2010 for just £1 to Evgeny. This reflects the severe economic pressures facing print newspapers at the time.

3) What was the Independent newspaper famous for?

It became associated with  journalism scandal involving inaccuracies and plagiarism. Journalist Johann Hari was stripped of his Orwell Prize, which significantly damaged the newspaper’s credibility.

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

Evgeny Lebedev argued "“The newspaper industry is changing, and that change is being driven by readers. They’re showing us that the future is digital. This decision preserves the Independent brand and allows us to continue to invest in the high quality editorial content that is attracting more and more readers to our online platforms.”

5) How do online newspapers make money?

Online newspapers generate revenue through digital advertising, subscription paywalls, sponsored content, partnerships and reader donations.

Simon Kelner warned that the Independent’s distinctive voice, design and diversity of perspectives would be difficult to replicate online. He suggested that the newspaper’s identity was closely tied to its physical print format.

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

The main concern is that digital platforms allow misinformation to spread quickly without proper verification. Audiences may share content without fact-checking.

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?

I think that decline in print media ultimately had to happen due to technonlogical advances and the rise of social media. I also believe that news should be free, although it can provide misinformation.