HotTopics: The Future Of News: Latest Reader Study Shows News Publishers Caught Between TV And Internet

A fundamental shift is underway in how people find and use news and information traditionally provided by newspapers. Ten years into Internet usage, time spent online is increasing, taking eyeballs (and revenue) from other media and forcing traditional newspaper publishers to scramble to figure out how to retain readers and attract new ones. Outsell recently surveyed over 2,800 U.S. news consumers about their preferences and habits, and this data-rich HotTopics presents results of that study. It analyzes where users are turning for news and information, how they expect their usage patterns to change, where they have migrated online and for what, how buying and selling habits are affected by advertising methods, and how generations differ in their habits. The data shows how print-based businesses continue to fall out of favor, and the extent to which they have lost key roles in commerce through online classifieds, auctions, and free services such as craigslist. The role of generational differences is huge, with younger users the ones most likely to turn away from print. The HotTopics also identifies areas where newspaper publishers have core strengths, including entertainment listings, sports, and real estate news. A look ahead provides clues about trends in video and audio, customization, alerting services, and mobile information services. A list of essential actions provides direction to newspaper publishers looking to act strategically in a challenging market.