Young Brits 'read six news stories a day' | Why police action on Pearson is misguided
Plus a survey finds 21% of Americans regularly get news from influencers and there are more high-level exits at Reach
Welcome to your daily newsletter from Press Gazette on Tuesday 19 November 2024.
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It has become widely accepted that most people under 30 are unlikely to go to publisher websites - preferring to get their news from the often toxic soup of information available on platforms like Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
But a new study from Newsworks offers some hope for publishers that younger news consumers spend more time with publisher websites and apps than we (or even they) realise.
The body tracked the website and app browsing habits of just under 1,000 UK young people (aged 15 to 29) and has published a report revealing that they read six news stories per day on average.
Newsworks is a marketing body for UK commercial newsbrands, but the study looks legit and suggests the young may be more interested in their world, and more discerning news consumers, than we realise.
We also report on another study which reveals the growing role of "influencers" as sources of news. A survey by the Pew-Knight Initiative reveals that just over a fifth of US adults get their news from social media personalities.
Today we also publish what may be the last word on Essex Police versus Allison Pearson. Media law expert David Banks, a former co-author of media law bible MacNae's, said the force was misguided to knock on her door and is extremely unlikely to secure a conviction over her (now deleted) post on X.
We should all be alarmed when police officers call at the homes of journalists to discuss what they are writing and is something which should only happen in the most extreme and exceptional circumstances.
And there are more senior exits at Reach where Sunday Express editor David Wooding and former Sunday Mirror editor Gemma Aldridge have separately left the publisher.
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On Press Gazette
Young UK adults read average of six news stories per day, research finds
Publisher marketing body Newsworks persuaded a group of 993 nationally representative UK young people (aged 15-29) to install software tracking their website and app browsing for a month in 2023.
Fifth of Americans regularly get news from social media influencers
An analysis of who those influencers are indicated few of the most popular accounts for news online have ever formally worked in journalism and that they are more likely to lean right than left.
Comment: Essex Police action against Allison Pearson is misguided and chills press freedom
“The need to protect freedom of speech means there is a high bar for prosecution under the Public Order Act for inciting racial hatred, and any such prosecution has to be authorised by the Attorney General – who must be absolutely delighted at the prospect of this hot potato heading towards his desk.”
Ex-Sunday Mirror and People editor Gemma Aldridge leaves publisher
Aldridge wrote on Twitter/X on Monday that after 12 years at the Sunday Mirror and People she had made “the tough but exciting decision” to leave the papers “for pastures new”.
News in brief
The Associated Press is planning to make cuts affecting 8% of staff, of which less than half would impact news staff, Press Gazette understands. Most of those affected are expected to be in the US. (Press Gazette)
OpenAI is paying at least $16m a year to licence Dotdash Meredith content, Adweek reports.
Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper founder Jimmy Lai, a British national, must be released from prison immediately and unconditionally, said 105 politicians from 24 countries as his trial recommences. (The London Standard)
Keith Hoggins, a "cornerstone" of The Daily Telegraph's news production team for 30 years including working on the MPs' expenses scandal, has died aged 69. Editor Chris Evans said: "Keith was a master of his craft, a perfect balance of flair and rigour." (The Telegraph)
A new documentary for S4C’s Y Byd ar Bedwar alleges Huw Edwards approached an 18 year-old schoolboy following an event he was compering to ask to connect on Instagram, promising to help the teenager progress in his music career and to give him a BBC newsroom tour. (The Telegraph)
This week on Press Gazette:
Sponsored: News agency behind UK’s biggest headlines expands into US
Telegraph calls for change in law after Allison Pearson accused of Public Order offence
Prince Harry and Tom Watson only remaining claimants against Sun publisher
Top publishers saw less traffic on day of 2024 US election versus 2020
Telegraph is launching an AI-driven newsroom tool every month
Fresh auction looms for Telegraph as Dovid Efune yet to secure financing
Paul Staines steps down as Guido Fawkes editor, Ross Kempsell becomes publisher
Podcast 78: Generative AI in the newsroom at The Telegraph
Telegraph Media Group director of technology Dylan Jacques talks to us about the title’s ambitious plans to roll out a new generative-AI powered feature every month for 12 months.
It has already rolled out AI-written summaries and various internal tools which are helping journalists use AI to improve content, increase reader engagement and so sell more subscriptions.