WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the 26th International Symposium on Online Journalism (ISOJ) in Austin, Texas later this week, the Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI) released a report detailing a Fall 2024 survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults, examining their news consumption preferences. According to the report, a quarter (22%) of U.S. adults regularly get news and information online from individual creators or influencers. The report specifically details the news habits of those who regularly get their news from individual creators or influencers. CNTI’s Executive Director Amy Mitchell will present these findings as part of ISOJ’s panel, “New understandings of ‘journalist’ and ‘journalism’ in the age of influencers.”
“Influencers and individual content creators are filling information gaps, including reporting from places where professional journalists do not have access, but whether they hold themselves to the same mission and reporting standards of more traditional journalism is less clear. Understanding the news preferences of the people who turn to them most helps journalists and other relevant stakeholders explore how news providers can work together to best provide the public with fact-based information while promoting innovation and technological advancements,” said CNTI Executive Director Amy Mitchell.
Some key findings about Americans who rely on content creators or influencers for news:
- These adults are actively engaged in issues and events, and more positive than other Americans about their ability to keep up.
- Like other Americans, they value the role of journalism in society, while also believing non-journalists can create it.
- They prioritize speed in getting informed comparably to hearing from professional journalists; all others say hearing from professional journalists is more important.
- They have more technology-driven media habits than other Americans, but do not rely solely on social media.
- They are more optimistic than others about developments in technology and artificial intelligence.
Each finding is discussed in detail in the full report available here. This survey is part of CNTI’s Defining News Initiative, which explores the evolving news ecosystem and the role technology plays in the industry. CNTI will continue its research on the evolving news and journalism landscape and consumer’s perceptions and preferences, to encourage independent, sustainable media, maintain an open internet and foster informed public policy conversations.
Read the full report here.
About the Center for News, Technology and Innovation: The Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI), an independent global policy research center, seeks to encourage independent, sustainable media, maintain an open internet and foster informed public policy conversations. CNTI’s cross-industry convenings espouse evidence-based, thoughtful but challenging conversations about the issue at hand, with an eye toward feasible steps forward. The Center for News, Technology & Innovation is a project of the Foundation for Technology, News & Public Affairs. Learn more at https://innovating.news/.
Contact: press@innovating.news
