News experts dispute Ofcom result

News industry experts have criticised a new report by Ofcom which claims readers aged under 28 no longer consume news from print titles. 

The Scrolling News report monitored the news habits of 22 participants and found no-one under the age of 28 sourced their news from print.

However, data from News Media Association (NMA) contradicted the findings, revealing nearly half of those aged between 18 and 34 read newspapers every month. 

In response to the study, a NMA spokesperson told RN: “Newsbrands are reaching more people than ever before – research shows that 47% of 18-34-year-olds read newspapers in print every month. Twenty-two respondents for a report is a very small sample size and not necessarily reflective of society as a whole.”

Meanwhile, research from publisher TI Media indicates more than 65% of those aged below 28 read magazines every month. Amanda Wigginton, group customer strategy director at TI Media, said: “We identified a segment called ‘Hashtag Heroes’, aged 18-22, who are more likely to turn to print for information they are passionate about. If we look at 15-28-year-olds specifically, 66% read or use magazine brands every month.”

The Scrolling News report monitored the news habits of 22 participants and found no-one under the age of 28 sourced their news from print.

However, data from News Media Association (NMA) contradicted the findings, revealing nearly half of those aged between 18 and 34 read newspapers every month. 

In response to the study, a NMA spokesperson told RN: “Newsbrands are reaching more people than ever before – research shows that 47% of 18-34-year-olds read newspapers in print every month. Twenty-two respondents for a report is a very small sample size and not necessarily reflective of society as a whole.”

Meanwhile, research from publisher TI Media indicates more than 65% of those aged below 28 read magazines every month. Amanda Wigginton, group customer strategy director at TI Media, said: “We identified a segment called ‘Hashtag Heroes’, aged 18-22, who are more likely to turn to print for information they are passionate about. If we look at 15-28-year-olds specifically, 66% read or use magazine brands every month.”