Ofcom: Traditional News Media Remains Most Used Source Of News During Pandemic

The latest Ofcom survey has found that traditional news media remains the most used and most important source of news and information about the coronavirus.

Ofcom have conducted online surveys every week since late March on news consumption throughout the pandemic.

The online survey of 2,000 respondents found that, among adult internet users, traditional media sources – broadcasters, newspapers, radio – remains the most-used source of news and information about the pandemic, as well as the most importance source of news and information to users.

Eighty-seven per cent of adult internet users turn to traditional media as a source of Covid-19 information and 67 per cent deem it to be the most important source of news.

Ninety-four per cent of over 55s use traditional media compared to 81 per cent of 16-24s.

The survey also found that more than eight in ten people (85 per cent) are still accessing news about the coronavirus at least once a day, with the use of social media as a source for news and information about the virus has decreased from 49 per cent in week one to 37 per cent in week 14.

Respondents were asked whether the misinformation they saw came across as true, false, or unclear. The statement that social media was the main source for misinformation was presented as true. Sharing news and information about COVID-19 via social media has also dropped from 25 per cent to 13 per cent.