A STUDY OF NEWS CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

India will have 1 billion smart phone users by 2026, according to a recent Deloitte report Big bets (2022). As for news consumption, a June 2022 article in Mint says that around 72% on Indians access news through smartphones, and only 35% via computers. News aggregator platforms and apps such as Google News (53%), Daily Hunt (25%), In Shorts (19%), and News Point (17%) are also gaining currency Jha (2022). Even though the use of mobile phones is increasing, a 2022 study conducted by the Reuters Institute in 46 markets says that the trust in news is falling, especially with the younger age group. Youth Avoiding News, Says Reuters Study. (2022). The report says, “These groups are critical audiences for publishers and journalists around the world, and for the sustainability of news, but are increasingly hard to reach and may require different strategies to engage them.” This study also marks the difference in the consumption pattern between social natives (18 to 24) and digital natives (25 to 34). While digital natives still stick on to Facebook, social natives have moved to other new networks. Many news organizations are struggling to remain relevant to this group of youth. Using the quantitative survey methodology, this study aims to track news consumption patterns among youth.