More Americans choose local television news as one of their top three sources for news than any other form of traditional or new media, according to The Future of News Survey conducted for the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. A total of 65.5 percent named local television news, compared with 28.4 percent who named local newspapers and 28.3 percent who named national network television news. The Internet was one of the top three choices for 11.2 percent of those surveyed.
The study, conducted by Prof. Bob Papper at Ball State University, included a sample of 1,000 adults - half under the age of 25. Only only 3% said they read a blog daily; only 5% have watched news on a small screen. Papper said 40% of the TV news directors thought small screen gizmo-viewing was common.
News consumers said they do want more control and more convenience: on demand from the cable company and through more channels of niche content
Listen to an interview with Prof. Papper.
Bullet points:
- The public is showing a strong interest in serious news. National and international news rank second and third, just behind weather, in interest. Information about sports and entertainment ranked at the bottom.
- People want to be able to watch news when it is convenient for them. Decisions to watch news appear to be based on having the time available, rather than to watch something specific that they have heard about.
- Two-thirds of the public say they have never read a blog or don't know what it is.
- The public desires more interactivity with television news. More than 40 percent of the public would like the ability to assemble their own newscasts. More than 60 percent would like to be able to push a button and get more information on screen about what they are watching.
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