Smartphone the defining device for accessing digital news in Ireland

16 Jun 2015

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Research published today (Tuesday 16^th June) by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism has found that smartphones are the defining device when it comes to accessing digital news in Ireland. The global report can be accessed via a dedicated site, www.digitalnewsreport.org

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has funded the inclusion of Ireland, for the first time, in the Reuters Institute Digital News Report as part of its work on media plurality in Ireland. The data relating to Ireland has also been the subject of a more detailed and specific digital news report, undertaken by DCU’s Institute for Future Media and Journalism and commissioned by the BAI. Scheduled for launch on Tuesday June 23^rd, the Digital News Report for Ireland (2015) will examine the use of platforms and devices in more detail, in addition to exploring trust in news sources, paying for news, social media and gateways to news.

Today’s published research from Reuters found that news is most consistently accessed via television and online and Ireland is no exception. More generally many countries with the highest levels of trust in the news also tended to have well-funded public service broadcasters.

In terms of gateways to news, it was notable from the Reuters research that the starting point of a news journey was less likely to be a brand homepage, and increasingly likely to be via a search engine, a social network, email, or the lockscreen of a smartphone.

The launch of the Reuters Institute Digital News Report for Ireland (2015) on June 23^rd will take place at an event co-hosted by the BAI and DCU. “Fujo: Shaping Journalism’s Future”, will provide the setting for the BAI’s current and forthcoming work on media plurality and the development of policy in this important area. The event also marks the formal launch of DCU’s FuJo, the Institute for Future Media and Journalism.

A press release from the Reuters Institute on their 2015 report is available here

-Ends-

Media Queries to:

Catherine Heaney/Tony Heffernan

DHR Communications

01 4200580/ 087 2309835/ 087 2399508

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