This document provides an overview of the key findings from the 2019 Digital News Report, which is the largest ongoing survey of news consumption habits. Some of the main findings summarized are: - More people are paying for online news, especially in Nordic countries, though subscription numbers remain relatively low elsewhere. Many people are relying more on reputable news brands. - Despite increased focus on quality brands, trust in news continues to decline globally. People report news overload and negativity. - Social media engagement, especially Facebook, is declining slightly as people spend more time on Instagram, WhatsApp, and messaging apps. - Podcasts and audio news are gaining popularity, especially among younger audiences who enjoy the portable

1. @risj_oxford | #DNR19
Reuters Institute
Digital News Report
2019

2. World’s biggest ongoing news survey - 2019
75,000
respondents
38 Markets
2
6
6

3. Methodology
RESEARCH CONDUCTED ONLINE IN JANUARY/EARLY FEBRUARY 2019
3
Country Sample Size
Internet
penetration
USA 2012 96%
UK 2134 95%
Germany 2066 96%
France 2106 93%
Italy 2042 92%
Spain 2087 93%
Portugal 2072 78%
Ireland 2096 93%
Norway 2055 99%
Sweden 2030 97%
Finland 2039 94%
Denmark 2063 97%
Country Sample Size
Internet
penetration
Belgium 2075 94%
Netherlands 2154 96%
Switzerland 2059 91%
Austria 2050 88%
Hungary 2058 89%
Slovakia 2101 85%
Czech Republic 2047 88%
Poland 2035 78%
Romania 2051 74%
Bulgaria* 2041 66%
Croatia 2043 91%
Greece 2052 70%
Turkey* 2019 68%
Country Sample Size
Internet
penetration
Japan 2017 93%
Korea, South 2035 93%
Taiwan 1005 88%
Hong Kong 2056 87%
Malaysia* 2101 78%
Singapore 2033 84%
Australia 2010 88%
Canada 2055 90%
Brazil* 2013 71%
Argentina 2006 93%
Chile 2004 78%
Mexico* 2015 65%
South Africa* 2085 54%
Polling by Supported by

4. Key findings
More people are
paying for online
news (in some
countries) but the
limits of
subscription are
becoming clear
Many say they are
relying more on
reputable brands and
less time with ‘less
accurate’ brands than
this time last year
Despite this, trust
in the news
continues to fall,
with people people
complaining about
news overload and
negativity
People in most
countries are
spending less time on
Facebook and more
time with Instagram
and WhatsApp
Podcasts (and
news podcasts)
are striking a real
chord with
consumers –
especially the
young

5. @risj_oxford
Paying for news

6. “ I now realize that good journalism requires
money. If I keep relying only on free news
stories, the quality of journalism I get will be
dumbed down and made much worse”
M, 52, USA
Some people are now paying for news
6
PEOPLE ARE REALISING THAT QUALITY COSTS
23%Average in Nordic
countries pay
16%Now pay for
online news in
the US
9%In the UK
But only
NORDIC
COUNTRIES LEAD
THE WORLD
Q7a. Have you paid for ONLINE news content, or accessed a paid for ONLINE news service in the last year ? (This could be a digital subscription, combined digital/print
subscription or one off payment for an article or app or e-edition)

7. With the exception of the US & Nordics the proportion
paying for news remains flat
7
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
USA UK Germany France Spain
Trump bump
Maintained

8. 8
Winner takes all environment?
HALF OF US SUBSCRIPTIONS GOING TO 3 PUBLICATIONS …
EVERYONE CHASING SAME GROUP OF EDUCATED, RICHER, INTERESTED IN NEWS

9. 9
Proportion of digital-only subscribers – selected markets

10. 10
Average (median) number of subscriptions is ONE
Q7a. Have you paid for ONLINE news content, or accessed a paid for ONLINE news service in the last year ? (This could be a digital subscription, combined digital/print subscription or one off payment for an article or app or
e-edition)
Base: All markets 2019 – USA: 2012; UK: 2023; Germany: 2022; France: 2005; Spain: 2005; Japan: 2017
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1 2 3 4 5
Number of subscriptions/donations per person
UK
Includes all payments
• Donations
• Bundles
• Those paid for by
businesses

11. 11
Average (median) number of subscriptions is ONE –
Germany

12. 12
News is competing on value with other options ….
15%If you could only have one subscription next year?
Netflix etc Spotify etcSpotify etc
Netflix etc
Spotify etc
Netflix etc Spotify etc

13. 13
Consumers don’t always like this interruption ….
“I prefer it if they flag
premium/paid-for content
up before they make me
click any links to content”
(M, 50)
“It is an understandable way
to raise revenue but I prefer
the Guardian model, which
doesn't limit access to just
those who can afford it.” (F,
43)
“I do not always agree
with it as I believe we
should all have access to
news for free..” (F, 26)
Barriers to content are growing ….

14. 14
Proportion that say they see a paywall less than once a week –
selected markets

15. @risj_oxford
Gateways to news

16. 16
Main gateways to news : Four models of online access

17. 17
Relationship between preference for direct news access
and digital news subscriptions

18. 18
Proportion that used a newsletter/mobile alert in the last
week (2014-19) – selected countries

19. @risj_oxford
First contact with
the news

20. 20
Proportion that used each for first contact with news (2016
and 2019) – UK and USA

21. 43%
34%
11%
3%
2%
News website or app
Social media
Homescreen links
Email
Aggregator
Other/Don't know
Q9d You mentioned that your FIRST contact with news in the morning is using smartphone, in which ONE of the following places do you typically find your first news?
Base: All using internet via smartphone first thing for news UK: 516 ; USA: 460
In the UK Almost half go first to a news app
20%
43%
10%
8%
11%
News website or app
Social media
Homescreen links
Email
Aggregator
Other/Don't know
In the US social is the first destination for most
Facebook 17%
Twitter 11%
Instagram 3%
Facebook 25%
Twitter 11%
Instagram 2%
Where do people first find news on smartphone?

22. 22
Proportion of smartphone-first users that used each for first
contact with news

23. @risj_oxford
Smartphone rise

24. SPAIN
UK
24
FRANCE
GERMANY
USA
access news
via smartphone
across all
38 countries
66%
64%
57%
59%
56%
+4
8b Which, if any, of the following devices have you used to access news in the last week?
Base: Total sample in each market
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
63%
Weekly smartphone usage for news 2013-19
selected countries

25. 25
Main device for news (2013-19) - UK

26. @risj_oxford
News aggregators

27. 27
Proportion that used each news aggregator in the last week
(2017 and 2019) – Selected Regions

28. 28
Proportion that used Apple News in the last week, 2016-19 –
US / UK

29. @risj_oxford
Social media and
the move to
messaging

30. Pivot to private and ephemeral messaging
8%
Q12a/b. Which, if any, of the following have you used for any purpose/for news in the last week?
Base: ‘Main’ 12 market average: UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Brazil & Japan (10 market average for 2014 exl Australia & Ireland)
36%
16%
9%
10%
3%
64%
45%
32%
37%
21%
12%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Weekly use for news
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Facebook algorithm
changes
Weekly use for any purpose
Facebook and Twitter are flat. Attention and time is shifting to newer networks

31. Net difference in time spent with each social network in
last year - UK
31

32. Proportion of Facebook and Whatsapp users that used
each type of group in the past month – selected markets
32

33. Proportion that used Instagram and Snapchat for news –
Selected Markets
33

34. 34
Q12B. Which, if any, of the following have you used for news in the last week? Showing WhastApp code
Base: Total sample in each country.
*India poll conducted Jan 2019 with English-speaking, online news users in India – a small (but important) subset of a larger, more diverse, and very complex Indian media market
WhatsApp for news
Brazil 53% (+5)
India 52%
Malaysia 50%
WhatsApp Groups used very differently in Brazil,
Malaysia, Turkey. More likely to be big groups with
people don’t know
With greater potential for misinformation
Proportion that used Instagram and Snapchat for news –
Selected Markets (DNR 2019 + India)

35. 35
Proportion of Facebook and WhatsApp users that are
members of each group

36. 36
Proportion that trusts most news from social media most of
the time

37. @risj_oxford
Trust in news

38. 38
Proportion that trusts most news most of the time

39. 39
Proportion that trusts most news most of the time

40. 40
Proportion that trusts most news most of the time over time –
USA and UK

41. 41
Proportion concerned about what is real and what is fake on the
internet when it comes to news – All Markets

42. @risj_oxford
Digital literacy

43. 43
Proportion that say they have changed online habits in the last
year – All Markets

44. 44
Proportion that say they have changed online habits in the last
year – Selected Markets

45. @risj_oxford
Alternative and
partisan websites

46. 46
Proportion that have heard/used each in the last week

47. 47
Proportion that have heard/used each in the last week

48. 48
Proportion that have heard/used each in the last week

49. @risj_oxford
Populism and the
media

50. 50
Proportion with populist attitudes – selected markets

51. 51
Main source of news by populist attitudes – USA

52. 52
Main gateway to online news by attitudes – Europe and USA

53. 53
Proportion that use each social network for news by attitudes –
Europe and USA

54. 54
Proportion that interact with news on social media by attitudes –
Europe and USA

55. 55
Proportion that use each outlet for news by attitudes – UK

56. 56
Cross-platform audience map - UK

57. 57
Cross-platform audience map - USA

58. 58
Cross-platform audience map - Germany

59. 59
Cross-platform audience map - Germany

60. 60
Cross-platform audience map - Sweden

61. 61
Cross-platform audience map - Spain

62. 62
Cross-platform audience map - France

63. 63
Cross-platform audience map - Italy

64. @risj_oxford
Attitudes towards
the news media

65. 65
Proportion that agreed with each attitude towards the news – All Markets

66. 66
Proportion that agreed with each attitude towards the news –
Selected Markets

67. 67
Proportion that agreed with each attitude towards the news –
Selected Markets

68. 68
Proportion that agreed with each attitude towards the news –
Selected Markets

69. 69
Proportion that agreed with each attitude towards the news –
Selected Markets

70. 70
Proportion that trusts news by attitudes towards the news – All
Markets

71. 71
Proportion that paid for online news in the last year by attitudes
towards the news – All Markets

72. 72
Proportion that agrees that the news media monitor and
scrutinise the powerful – All Markets

73. @risj_oxford
Young people and
the news

74. 74
Proportion that said each was their first contact with news in the
morning by age - Selected Markets

75. 75
Proportion that uses each during first contact with news in the
morning via smartphone by age – Selected Markets

76. 76
Proportion that used each social network for news in the last
week – All Markets

77. 77
Proportion that prefers text over video by age – All Markets

78. @risj_oxford
Podcasts and audio

79. 79
Proportion that used a podcast in the last month

80. 80
Proportion that used a podcast in the last month – by age

81. 81
Proportion that used each device to listen to podcasts – UK

82. 82
Proportion that used a podcast in each location by age –
Selected Markets

83. 83
Proportion that used a podcast via private/public transport
in the last month – Selected Markets

84. 84
Main reasons for listening to podcasts by age – UK

85. 85
Proportion that used each podcast genre in the last month –
All Markets

86. 86
Proportion that used a smart speaker for any purpose/for news
in the last week – Selected Markets

87. 87
Proportion of smart speaker owners that use each device – USA

88. @risj_oxford
News avoidance

89. 89
Proportion that often or sometimes actively avoids the news
– All markets

90. 90
Reasons for avoiding news - UK

91. 91
Reasons for avoiding news among leave and remain voters
- UK

92. @risj_oxford | #DNR19
Key data by country

93. 93
UK: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

94. 94
UK:SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

95. 95
UK: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

96. 96
AUSTRIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

97. 97
AUSTRIA:SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

98. 98
AUSTRIA: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

99. 99
BELGIUM: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

100. 100
BELGIUM: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

101. 101
BELGIUM: BRAND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

102. 102
BELGIUM: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

103. 103
BULGARIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

104. 104
BULGARIA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

105. 105
BULGARIA: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

106. 106
CROATIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

107. 107
CROATIA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

108. 108
CROATIA: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

109. 109
CZECH REPUBLIC: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST
WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

110. 110
CZECH REPUBLIC: SOURCES, DEVICES AND
TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

111. 111
CZECH REPUBLIC: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL
MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

112. 112
DENMARK: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

113. 113
DENMARK: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

114. 114
DENMARK: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

115. 115
FINLAND: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

116. 116
FINLAND: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

117. 117
FINLAND: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

118. 118
FRANCE: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

119. 119
FRANCE: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

120. 120
FRANCE: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

121. 121
GERMANY: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

122. 122
GERMANY: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

123. 123
GERMANY: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

124. 124
GREECE: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

125. 125
GREECE: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

126. 126
GREECE: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

127. 127
HUNGARY: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

128. 128
HUNGARY: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

129. 129
HUNGARY: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

130. 130
IRELAND: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

131. 131
IRELAND: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

132. 132
IRELAND: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

133. 133
ITALY: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

134. 134
ITALY: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

135. 135
ITALY:PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

136. 136
NETHERLANDS: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST
WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

137. 137
NETHERLANDS: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

138. 138
NETHERLANDS: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL
MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

139. 139
NORWAY: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

140. 140
NORWAY: SOURCES DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

141. 141
NORWAY: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

142. 142
POLAND: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

143. 143
POLAND: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

144. 144
POLAND: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

145. 145
PORTUGAL: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

146. 146
PORTUGAL: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

147. 147
PORTUGAL: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

148. 148
ROMANIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

149. 149
ROMANIA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

150. 150
ROMANIA: PAY AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

151. 151
SLOVAKIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

152. 152
SLOVAKIA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

153. 153
SLOVAKIA: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

154. 154
SPAIN: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

155. 155
SPAIN: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

156. 156
SPAIN: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

157. 157
SWEDEN: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

158. 158
SWEDEN: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

159. 159
SWEDEN: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

160. 160
SWITZERLAND: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST
WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

161. 161
SWITZERLAND: TRUST, SOURCES AND DEVICES
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

162. 162
SWITZERLAND: BRAND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

163. 163
SWITZERLAND: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL
MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

164. 164
TURKEY: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

165. 165
TURKEY: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

166. 166
TURKEY: PAY AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

167. 167
USA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

168. 168
USA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

169. 169
USA: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

170. 170
ARGENTINA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

171. 171
ARGENTINA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

172. 172
ARGENTINA: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

173. 173
BRAZIL: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

174. 174
BRAZIL: TRUST, SOURCES & DEVICES
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

175. 175
BRAZIL: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

176. 176
CANADA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

177. 177
CANADA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

178. 178
CANADA: BRAND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

179. 179
CANADA: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

180. 180
CHILE: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

181. 181
CHILE: TRUST, DEVICES AND SOURCES
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

182. 182
CHILE: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

183. 183
MEXICO: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

184. 184
MEXICO: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

185. 185
MEXICO: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

186. 186
AUSTRALIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

187. 187
AUSTRALIA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

188. 188
AUSTRALIA: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL
MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

189. 189
HONG KONG: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

190. 190
HONG KONG: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

191. 191
HONG KONG: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND
SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

192. 192
JAPAN: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

193. 193
JAPAN: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

194. 194
JAPAN: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

195. 195
MALAYSIA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

196. 196
MALAYSIA: TRUST, SOURCES AND DEVICES
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

197. 197
MALAYSIA: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

198. 198
SINGAPORE: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

199. 199
SINGAPORE: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

200. 200
SINGAPORE: PAY, PODCASTS AND SOCIAL
MEDIA
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

201. 201
SOUTH KOREA: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST
WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

202. 202
SOUTH KOREA: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

203. 203
SOUTH KOREA: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND
SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

204. 204
TAIWAN: NEWS BRANDS USED LAST WEEK
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

205. 205
TAIWAN: SOURCES, DEVICES AND TRUST
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

206. 206
TAIWAN: PAY, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING
RISJ Digital News Report 2019

207. More at : digitalnewsreport.org
@risj_oxford | #DNR19
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