1. ©Ofcom News – what, where, why (not)? Ofcom Future of News project Presentation to Oxford Media Convention, 18 January 2007 Alison Preston, senior research associate

2. ©Ofcom1 What we did Quantitative survey Qualitative groups 2216 respondents aged 16+ Questions repeated and extended those of New News Old News Carried out by TNS during September 2006 12 groups Focus on young people, and people from minority ethnic and faith groups Groups conducted across the UK – Birmingham, Bradford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leicester, London

3. ©Ofcom2 Two key themes - Consumption – who uses what, and how? - Disengagement from news – who is, and why?

4. ©Ofcom3 TV remains dominant as the major news source – Q3a) Which of the following do you EVER use for news? Base: All adults 16+, 4662 (2002) and 2216 (2006) Note1: 2002 question = Q1b) What OTHER sources do you use

5. ©Ofcom4 – and use of internet for news has nearly doubled since 2002 Q3a) Which of the following do you EVER use for news? Base: All adults 16+, 4662 (2002) and 2216 (2006) Note1: 2002 question = Q1b) What OTHER sources do you use

6. ©Ofcom5 Young people: 16-24 use of press and radio for news is down Q3a) Which of the following do you EVER use for news? Base: All 16-24 year olds, 217 (2002) and 352 (2006) Note1: 2002 question = Q1b) What OTHER sources do you use

7. ©Ofcom6 Minority ethnic groups have a different pattern of consumption to the all-UK picture Q3a) Which of the following do you EVER use for news? Base: All adults 16+, 2216

8. ©Ofcom7 Use of online news is mainly traditional Q6) In which types of ways do you access and use news online? Base: All who use as news source, 512

9. ©Ofcom8 And the main source is TV channel news sites – and online aggregators Q5e) Thinking specifically about Internet (via a PC or laptop) which of the following do you use REGULARLY for news? Base: All weekly users, 453

10. ©Ofcom9 Some evidence of incidental internet news access When I log onto the internet, the first page that comes up has a little news bit on it. Sometimes a little picture pops up with a little headline, and if its interesting, Ill click on it and have a look (16-18 years, Leeds)

11. ©Ofcom10 Some evidence of incidental internet news access When I log onto the internet, the first page that comes up has a little news bit on it. Sometimes a little picture pops up with a little headline, and if its interesting, Ill click on it and have a look (16-18 years, Leeds) Usually, on Yahoo, when Im searching for something, the news headlines are down the side, so if theres something interesting then Ill have a look (19-24 years, Glasgow)

12. ©Ofcom11 Two key themes - Consumption – who uses what, and how? - Disengagement from news – who is, and why?

13. ©Ofcom12 Around one quarter of people say they follow news as a duty Q2) Thinking about some of the reasons people might have for following the news, which of these reasons apply to YOU? Base: All adults 16+, 2216

14. ©Ofcom13 In broad terms, continued strong agreement with its importance Q16: I am now going to read out some statements. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of them? Base: 2006 - all adults 16+, 2216 I follow the news only when something important or interesting is happening Much of the news on TV is not relevant to me personally I think it's important to keep up to date with news and current affairs

15. ©Ofcom14 But a sharp increase in young peoples consumption only for particular events Q16: I am now going to read out some statements. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of them? Base: 2006 - all adults 16+, 2216 Much of the news on TV is not relevant to me personally I think it's important to keep up to date with news and current affairs I follow the news only when something important or interesting is happening

16. ©Ofcom15 And overall, an increased feeling of irrelevance of TV news Q16: I am now going to read out some statements. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of them? Base: 2006 - all adults 16+, 2216 I think it's important to keep up to date with news and current affairs I follow the news only when something important or interesting is happening Much of the news on TV is not relevant to me personally

17. ©Ofcom16 A quick poll Who ever uses 3 or more platforms for news? Who strongly agrees that – Its important to keep up to date with news and current affairs – I like to use a variety of news sources to compare stories Who ever uses just one or two platforms for news? Who agrees that they only follow news when something important or interesting is happening?

18. ©Ofcom17 Engagement with news varies by sub-group Base: All adults 16+, 2216

19. ©Ofcom18 Three in ten 16-19s are disengaged with news Base: All adults 16+, 2216

20. ©Ofcom19 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) Apathy

21. ©Ofcom20 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) Apathy

22. ©Ofcom21 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Theres more interest from older people than from people our age because we dont have time. Weve got to be out (White, 16-18, Bradford) Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) Different priorities Apathy

23. ©Ofcom22 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Theres more interest from older people than from people our age because we dont have time. Weve got to be out (White, 16-18, Bradford) Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) Its not cool to watch the news. Theres better things going on (White, 18-24, Cardiff) Different priorities Apathy Fashion

24. ©Ofcom23 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Politics. You just dont want to know. Because it does not affect us. (White, 16-18, Bradford) Theres more interest from older people than from people our age because we dont have time. Weve got to be out (White, 16-18, Bradford) Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) Its not cool to watch the news. Theres better things going on (White, 18-24, Cardiff) Different priorities Apathy Little perceived relevance Fashion

25. ©Ofcom24 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Politics. You just dont want to know. Because it does not affect us. (White, 16-18, Bradford) Theres more interest from older people than from people our age because we dont have time. Weve got to be out (White, 16-18, Bradford) Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) Its not cool to watch the news. Theres better things going on (White, 18-24, Cardiff) Different priorities Apathy Little perceived relevance Fashion We have not got there yet, like where it should bother us….because we do not have that responsibility, so it doesnt matter to us what happened (White, 16-18, Bradford)

26. ©Ofcom25 Reasons for disengagement – 16-24s Politics. You just dont want to know. Because it does not affect us. (White, 16-18, Bradford) Theres more interest from older people than from people our age because we dont have time. Weve got to be out (White, 16-18, Bradford) Ignorance is bliss (White, 18-24, Cardiff) I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) Its not cool to watch the news. Theres better things going on (White, 18-24, Cardiff) Different priorities Apathy Little perceived relevance Fashion We have not got there yet, like where it should bother us….because we do not have that responsibility, so it doesnt matter to us what happened (White, 16-18, Bradford) Mistrust I dont think we really care (Caribbean, 18-24, Birmingham) The BBC is basically run by the government so youll only hear on there what the government want you to hear (White, 18-24, Cardiff)

27. ©Ofcom26 Factors in disengagement for minority ethnic groups We are Indians living in the UK (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 20-40, London) Cultural affiliation

28. ©Ofcom27 Factors in disengagement for minority ethnic groups We are Indians living in the UK (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 20-40, London) In my household, as soon as my mother-in-law wakes up, Sunrise Radio and Star Plus are tag- teaming around the house. All I want to do is hear the weather or traffic report, but I dont get a chance (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 25-45, London) Cultural affiliation Generational pecking order

29. ©Ofcom28 Factors in disengagement for minority ethnic groups We are Indians living in the UK (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 20-40, London) In my household, as soon as my mother-in-law wakes up, Sunrise Radio and Star Plus are tag- teaming around the house. All I want to do is hear the weather or traffic report, but I dont get a chance (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 25-45, London) If I needed to know anything, my sister lives two doors away and shed tell me (Indian, 25-45, London) Cultural affiliation Generational pecking order More reliance on word of mouth

30. ©Ofcom29 Factors in disengagement for minority ethnic groups We are Indians living in the UK (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 20-40, London) In my household, as soon as my mother-in-law wakes up, Sunrise Radio and Star Plus are tag- teaming around the house. All I want to do is hear the weather or traffic report, but I dont get a chance (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 25-45, London) In the Daily Mail, all you find about black people is the negative side of things….The Voice is more about the positive (Caribbean, 20-40, Cardiff) If I needed to know anything, my sister lives two doors away and shed tell me (Indian, 25-45, London) Cultural affiliation Generational pecking order Disillusionment More reliance on word of mouth

31. ©Ofcom30 Factors in disengagement for minority ethnic groups I have actually switched off from a lot of the news. Actually switched off because all its going to do is make me angry (Pakistani Muslim, 20-40, Glasgow) We are Indians living in the UK (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 20-40, London) In my household, as soon as my mother-in-law wakes up, Sunrise Radio and Star Plus are tag- teaming around the house. All I want to do is hear the weather or traffic report, but I dont get a chance (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 25-45, London) In the Daily Mail, all you find about black people is the negative side of things….The Voice is more about the positive (Caribbean, 20-40, Cardiff) If I needed to know anything, my sister lives two doors away and shed tell me (Indian, 25-45, London) Cultural affiliation Generational pecking order Active rejection Disillusionment More reliance on word of mouth

32. ©Ofcom31 Factors in disengagement for minority ethnic groups I have actually switched off from a lot of the news. Actually switched off because all its going to do is make me angry (Pakistani Muslim, 20-40, Glasgow) We are Indians living in the UK (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 20-40, London) In my household, as soon as my mother-in-law wakes up, Sunrise Radio and Star Plus are tag- teaming around the house. All I want to do is hear the weather or traffic report, but I dont get a chance (Indian Hindu/Sikh, 25-45, London) In the Daily Mail, all you find about black people is the negative side of things….The Voice is more about the positive (Caribbean, 20-40, Cardiff) If I needed to know anything, my sister lives two doors away and shed tell me (Indian, 25-45, London) Cultural affiliation Generational pecking order Active rejection Disillusionment More reliance on word of mouth I would say as a Muslim I would be more interested … to see what they are saying we have got up to now (Pakistani Muslim, 20-40, Leicester)

33. ©Ofcom32 Whats next Publication in Spring of policy issues and research evidence Feedback on publication Stakeholder event to discuss issues