Comscore: Local News Audiences Rise Sharply Over Pandemic

Local news from the UK’s regional press industry was read by 43.7 million people in December, data from Comscore has revealed.

In total, 85.8 per cent of the UK’s adult, online population used local news in December, up from 79 per cent the previous December.

Overall growth year-on-year was 10 per cent, but down ever so slightly on November, when 43.8 million people used local news sites.

The data from Comscore and analysed by Behind Local News, showed 26.2 million adults got local news from more than one local news site.

The most-visited website in the regional press was once again the Manchester Evening News, with Comscore reporting 20 million readers across web and app, slightly down month-on-month, but with almost twice as many visitors as a year ago.

BirminghamLive was next, reaching 13.9 million readers, down 11 per cent month on month but 80 per cent up year on year.

Third was the Liverpool Echo, on 13 million, up eight per cent month on month and 80 per cent year on year as well.