After Covid, which has made the desire for certified information soar, interest in news considered more “difficult” and “traumatic” such as the war in Ukraine, inflation and the pandemic itself is decreasing. People tend to avoid this type of news and it also decreases the trust of readers in general. This is the picture that emerges from the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2022 which, for the fifth consecutive year, certifies that ANSA is first in Italy for reliability among online news publications.
According to the annual analysis, ANSA leads the ranking winning the trust of 73 %% of Italians, followed by Il Sole 24 Ore and SkyTg24. ANSA.it is confirmed as third party for consultation among information sites: 18% of Italians surf it every week. First Fanpage that makes a leap (last year it was fifth) followed by Tgcom24, ahead of SkyTg24, Repubblica, Corriere della Sera and Rainews. The Rai news programs are first followed by Mediaset and Skytg24.
The Reuters report indicates that in Italy the use of printed news continues to decline, with 15% (last year it was 18%) declaring that they use print sources. Keeps the TV, while the smartphone is the most used device for the enjoyment of online news. 36% of Italians share news on social media and chat (first Facebook followed by WhatsApp and YouTube).
In general compared to last year and in the 46 countries in which it was conducted, the report indicates a decline in people’s trust in the news after the jump due to the thirst for information for Covid-19: now it is at 42% (in 2021 it was to 44%). Finland is the country with the highest overall confidence levels (69%), while the United States has the lowest score (26%). Italy stands at 35% compared to 40% in 2021 in which a + 11% was recorded.
“The increases made at the height of the pandemic are partly reversed – explains Reuters – The 2021 analysis contained some positive signs for the publishing industry, with greater consumption and growing confidence. One year later, there is a slightly less optimistic picture “.
The percentage of people who deliberately avoid news on certain topics such as Covid-19, rising inflation, the war in Ukraine is also growing. The Reuters Institute dedicates a particular focus to information related to the war, conducted in five countries (Poland, Germany, Great Britain, United States and Brazil) from 29 March to 7 April.
It turns out that the conflict has followed fairly closely and many are turning to the news for updates.
But, due “perhaps to the difficult and sometimes traumatic nature of the crisis, there is a greater tendency to avoid the news.” In particular, in Germany 36% shy away from news about the war (+ 7% compared to before) and the increase in two months is greater than that recorded in the five years from 2017 to 2022. “Since the conflict will persist – explains the Reuters analysis – it will be particularly important for newsrooms to refocus efforts on explaining its broader implications. “
More generally, many respondents say that “the news has a negative effect on their mood”, while a significant percentage of young people and less educated people say they avoid the news because it is “difficult to understand”.
Finally, from the Digital News Report 2022 it emerges that the payment of online news does not take off, remaining at 17% as last year. And that the habits of the very young in the use of news are radically changing: 40% of under 25s use TikTok every week, with 15% claiming to consult it for news. The figures are even higher in some countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Source: Ansa
I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years now and I have worked for some of the biggest news websites in the world. My focus has always been on entertainment news, but I also cover a range of other topics. I am currently an author at Global happenings and I love writing about all things pop-culture related.
