Digital society has changed the way citizens interact and consume news, and media companies are trying to find ways to adapt to the changing media landscape.
The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, a think-tank based at Oxford University in the UK, has been investigating the impact of digitalization on the news and media outlets through international comparative research—“Digital News Report.” The NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute participates in this as a partner organization. Our analysis in 2023 finds that as digitization accelerates, more people, especially the younger generations, prefer to access news and information via social media, both in Japan and around the world. However, there are no dominant or big platforms which drive substantial traffic, and the intermediaries are getting increasingly fragmented. Moreover, despite their doubts about algorithms influencing which news they see, the users’ dependence on these platforms continue to grow.
This year’s survey was carried out as the war in Ukraine also played out over information online. While members of the public recognize the importance of reliable information, the growth of subscriptions has stalled, as the cost-of-living crisis puts pressure on their livelihoods.