Age is the most significant demographic factor when it comes to the use of different news sources, and also important in shaping attitudes towards the news media. The younger people are, the less likely they are to get their news from either television or newspapers, and the more likely they are to rely on the Internet. One in five (19%) of those aged 18 to 24 names the Internet as their most important news source, compared to 9 percent overall.
This 18 to 24 year old audience is also most likely to say that they value opportunities to get their news from on-line or mobile sources (71% vs average of 56%), that they trust the international media more than national sources (36% vs 30%), and that they seldom get the news they want from mainstream media (50% vs 46%).
Women are more likely than men to name television as their more important source of news while men are more likely than women to name newspapers and the Internet. Men are also more likely than women to: follow the news closely every day (76% vs 69%), value new technologies for getting their news (60% vs 52%), and abandoning a distrusted news source (31% vs 25%).
Looking to the future, the attached chart shows there is a clear demographic pattern in those who most value the growing opportunities to get the news and information they want using the latest Internet and wireless technologies.