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  • Nov, 2011

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    Media Usage

    Q. Thinking about where you get your news, on an average day which of the following media would you use? (multiple response)

    Q. And which one is your main source of news?

    Total used Main source Total use (weekdays) Dec 10
    Daily newspaper 41% 13% 42%
    Commercial (free-to-air) TV news 60% 31% 64%
    ABC TV news 32% 8% 32%
    SBS TV news 15% 2% 12%
    Pay TV news 11% 3% 10%
    Commercial radio news 28% 5% 27%
    ABC radio news 18% 5% 17%
    Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc 59% 30% 55%
    Internet blogs 8% * 6%
    None of them 2% 2% 5%

    The most used media for daily news were commercial TV news (60% use daily), internet news sites (59%) and daily newspapers (41%).

    Since this question was last asked in December last year, usage of internet news sites has increased a little (+4%) and commercial TV news decreased a little (-4%).

    The main sources of news were commercial TV news (31%) and internet news sites (30%).

    Commercial TV news was the main source of news for 38% of those aged 45-64, 36% of women and 44% of part-time workers.

    Internet news sites were the main source of news for 43% of those aged under 35 and 36% of full-time workers.

    Daily newspapers were the main source of news for 26% of those aged 65+.

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  • Dec, 2010

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    News Sources – Weekdays

    Q. Thinking about where you get your news, on an average weekday which of the following media would you use?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Daily newspaper 42% 42% 47% 38%
    Commercial (free-to-air) TV news 64% 68% 67% 57%
    ABC TV news 32% 34% 34% 32%
    SBS TV news 12% 10% 11% 19%
    Pay TV news 10% 11% 11% 6%
    Commercial radio news 27% 23% 34% 20%
    ABC radio news 17% 17% 17% 22%
    Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc 55% 54% 59% 56%
    Internet blogs 6% 4% 7% 10%
    None of them 5% 2% 3% 10%

    The most commonly used news sources on weekdays are commercial TV news (64%), internet news sites (55%) and newspapers (42%).

    Respondents aged 45+ were more likely to use commercial TV news (70%), newspapers (48%), and ABC TV news (43%). Those aged under 35 were more likely to access internet news sites (60%) and less likely to read newspapers (36%). Comments »

  • Dec, 2010

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    News Sources – Weekends

    Q. And where do you get your news on an average weekend?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Weekend newspaper 50% 51% 56% 43%
    Commercial (free-to-air) TV news 59% 64% 62% 42%
    ABC TV news 28% 29% 30% 29%
    SBS TV news 10% 9% 10% 13%
    Pay TV news 9% 9% 10% 3%
    Commercial radio news 17% 15% 22% 10%
    ABC radio news 13% 13% 14% 17%
    Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc 42% 41% 43% 42%
    Internet blogs 4% 2% 4% 8%
    None of them 6% 4% 3% 15%

     The most commonly used news sources on weekends are commercial TV news (59%), newspapers (50%) and internet news sites (42%). Respondents were more likely to read newspapers on weekends than weekdays (42% weekdays/50% weekends) but less likely to view commercial TV news (64%/59%) or internet news sites (55%/42%).

    Respondents aged 55+ were more likely to use commercial TV news (65%), newspapers (61%), and ABC TV news (46%). Comments »

  • Mar, 2010

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    Media usage

    Q. How frequently do you read, listen to or watch the following?

      Daily Several times a week About once a week Less often Never Don’t know
    Commercial TV news and current affairs 48% 27% 12% 8% 5% 1%
    News and opinion in daily newspapers 26% 22% 24% 16% 11% 1%
    Commercial radio news and current affairs 24% 22% 13% 20% 19% 1%
    News and opinion websites 23% 22% 17% 19% 17% 2%
    ABC TV news and current affairs 19% 21% 18% 23% 18% 1%
    ABC radio news and current affairs 15% 13% 10% 28% 33% 2%
    Commercial radio talkback programs 13% 12% 12% 26% 36% 1%
    ABC radio talkback programs 8% 10% 10% 26% 45% 2%
    Internet blogs 6% 9% 13% 29% 41% 3%

     Commercial TV news and current affairs was the most used news and opinion media (48% watch daily). 26% read newspapers daily, 24% commercial radio news and current affairs and 23% news and opinion websites.

     Newspapers tend to be read more by older people (38% of 65+ years read daily). 65% of those aged 55+ watch commercial TV news and current affairs daily. Internet news and opinion websites have similar patterns of usage across age groups but internet bogs are mostly used by those aged under 35 (10% daily) Comments »

  • Mar, 2010

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    Trust in media

    Q. How much trust do you have in what you read or hear in the following media?

      A lot Some Not much None Don’t know/use
    ABC TV news and current affairs 25% 45% 14% 3% 13%
    ABC radio news and current affairs 20% 42% 15% 4% 19%
    Commercial TV news and current affairs 9% 55% 26% 5% 5%
    News and opinion in daily newspapers 9% 53% 26% 4% 7%
    Commercial radio news and current affairs 7% 47% 29% 6% 10%
    ABC radio talkback programs 6% 39% 24% 5% 25%
    News and opinion websites 5% 44% 31% 6% 15%
    Commercial radio talkback programs 3% 35% 32% 11% 19%
    Internet blogs 2% 18% 40% 15% 25%

     ABC TV and radio news and current affairs were the most trusted media (25% and 20% respectively have a lot of trust).

     Commercial TV news and current affairs programs have the highest consumption, but only 9% say they have a lot of trust in them.

    And although consumption of newspapers and internet news sites is very similar, newspapers are considered more trustworthy (62% compared to 49% have a lot/some trust in them). Comments »

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