Ofcom has published its News Consumption in the UK 2022 report and the main headline is TikTok being crowned the fastest growing news source (alarming on the face of it although "news" doesn't necessarily mean current affairs, particularly to the younger generation).
But let's focus on the medium we care about most...
Radio as a "platform used for news"
- Younger age groups continue to be more likely to use the internet and social media for news, whereas their older counterparts favour print, radio and TV.
- There is some evidence of longer term erosion of radio reach (40% in 2022 down from 44% in 2018).
The question is: does this mean as a source, where decline to be expected given today's instant access to information online, or as somewhere to go for informed commentary and different angles on a particular story - one of radio's unique strengths?
- Younger age groups continue to be more likely to use the internet and social media for news, whereas their older counterparts favour print, radio and TV.
- There is some evidence of longer term erosion of radio reach (40% in 2022 down from 44% in 2018).
- At a channel level, longer term, reach of Capital and Heart for news appears to be decreasing, as does (Local BBC Radio) in England.
- BBC listeners generally rate BBC highly across attitudes particularly high quality (78%), trust (75%) and accuracy (74%).
While it's no surprise that fewer listeners are seeking out news from two music-intensive national brands, it's important to note that Local BBC Radio in England has also halved its usage for news in four years - yet the network's audience has increased since.
This is no reflection on the exemplary regional journalism - rather, it reaffirms there being other reasons to tune in. Past research has shown entertaining company for older listeners to be the main one.
That's not to say news doesn't matter - far from it.
Research published in June 2022 by the Charitable Journalism Project suggests social media is the default source of information in many towns, meaning there’s "demand for a trusted source of local news that’s both professional and authentically local".
While you could argue the BBC is more regional than hyperlocal (with projects such as Petersfield's Shine Radio and Alfred filling in gaps), it is well-resourced and can provide high quality, impartial, trusted coverage of significant stories as well as hold those in power to account.
Fundamentally, news is an important but small part of what Local BBC Radio means to its listeners and this report reinforces that.
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