Online and print newspapers compared: uses and effects ASCoR lunch lecture, September 2006

Surprise vs. control The multi-layered format of online newspapers encourages users to pursue their own path and select information that matches their interests Traditional newspapers typically guide their readers and surprise them with topics beyond their interests

Differential learning effects accidental exposure/ chance encounters/ reliable surprises passive/incidental learning awareness of topics beyond interests user autonomy/−control / selective scanning interest based learning in-depth knowledge topics of interest

Focus of the project Substitute or complement? Impact perceived agenda: number of topics Impact perceived agenda: kind of topics Patterns of change Causality

Method & measurements telephone survey (TNS/NIPO): December 2002, n=1000 January 2005, n=400 (panel) perceived agenda exposure (general: frequency/ duration & thematic: politics/ economy/ sports/ crimes & accidents) to: print newspapers/ online newspapers/ other news websites/ radio/ tv/ teletext/ magazines/ conversations demographics additional: interests/ motives/ participation variables

Substitute or complement How exposure to online newspapers relates to exposure to print newspapers and other channels mere exposure (Y⁄N) exposure time (minutes) print newspapers– (age low) other news sites++ TV+ (age low; female) − (male; edu low) radio+ (age low; edu high) teletext+ (edu high)

Substitute or complement The kind of information that other media channels are used for in comparison to online newspapers polecospoculcrilocvip print newspapers other news sites––––––– TV radio––– teletext––––––

Substitute or complement (2002) In sum: Online newspaper readers have characteristics of early adopters Negative relation between mere exposure to online newspapers and print newspapers (age low) Strong positive relations between exposure to online newspapers and other news sites In general: no clear indication for substitution of other media channels in terms of exposure or information functions

Perceived agenda: number of topics How general exposure to online and print newspapers relates to the extent of the overall perceived topics Exposure Frequency (times per week ) Duration (minutes per time ) Online newspapers + (edu high) Print newspapers + (interest low) + (interest average)

Perceived agenda: kind of topics How thematic exposure to online and print newspapers relates to the kind of topics perceived Thematic exposure to: allpolecospocri Online newspapers Print newspapers+++

Perceived agenda (2002) In sum: Online newspapers only seem to increase the range of perceived topics if used for longer periods of time and only by higher educated people Print newspapers are able to “trap” the less involved better than online papers do Print newspapers seem to expand the overall range of the perceived topics and the range of political and economic topics if they are considered important sources for these specific thematic areas

Patterns of change: general exposure all online newspapers++ print newspapers+− other news sites++ TV−+ radio teletext−+ magazines−−

Changes in general exposure Minutes per day spent on: all t1 t t1 t t1 t t1 t2 online newspapers print newspapers other news sites

Changes in general exposure How changes in exposure to online newspapers relate to changes in exposure to print newspapers and other channels all print newspapers other news sites++ TV radio teletext magazines+++

Next Patterns of change in the relationship between exposure and the perceived public agenda Causality exposure ↔ awareness