Avoiding the News: Reluctant Audiences for Journalism

Avoiding the News explores why and how many people consume little or no news despite unprecedented abundance and ease of access, arguing that it is about not only content but also identity, ideologies, and infrastructures. It is most common among disadvantaged groups, threatening to exacerbate existing inequalities by tilting mainstream journalism toward privileged audiences. Persuading news-averse audiences of the value of journalism requires a deeper, more empathetic understanding of peoples relationships with news across social, political, and technological boundaries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 26 December 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

A small but growing number of people in many countries consistently avoid the news. They feel they do not have time for it, believe it is not worth the effort, find it irrelevant or emotionally draining, or do not trust the media, among other reasons. Why and how do people circumvent news? Which groups are more and less reluctant to follow the news? In what ways is news avoidance a problem—for individuals, for the news industry, for society—and how can it be addressed?

This groundbreaking book explains why and how so many people consume little or no news despite unprecedented abundance and ease of access. Drawing on interviews in Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States as well as extensive survey data, Avoiding the News examines how people who tune out traditional media get information and explores their "folk theories" about how news organizations work. The authors argue that news avoidance is about not only content but also identity, ideologies, and infrastructures: who people are, what they believe, and how news does or does not fit into their everyday lives. Because news avoidance is most common among disadvantaged groups, it threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities by tilting mainstream journalism even further toward privileged audiences. Ultimately, this book shows, persuading news-averse audiences of the value of journalism is not simply a matter of adjusting coverage but requires a deeper, more empathetic understanding of people's relationships with news across social, political, and technological boundaries.

One of the key findings of the book is that news avoidance is not just a matter of individual preferences or habits but is also shaped by broader social and cultural factors. For example, the authors note that news avoidance is more common among older people, who may have less access to digital media and may be more likely to rely on traditional media sources that are less likely to cover news that is relevant to their interests. Additionally, the authors argue that news avoidance is also influenced by political ideology, with those who are more conservative or liberal being more likely to avoid news that challenges their beliefs.

Another important finding of the book is that news avoidance can have significant consequences for individuals and society. For individuals, news avoidance can lead to a lack of knowledge about important issues and can make it difficult to participate in public discourse. For the news industry, news avoidance can lead to a decline in advertising revenue and can make it difficult to attract and retain readers. For society, news avoidance can lead to a lack of civic engagement and can contribute to the polarization of political discourse.

To address news avoidance, the authors suggest a number of strategies. One of the most important strategies is to make news more accessible and engaging. This can be done by providing news in a variety of formats, such as text, video, and audio, and by making it available on a variety of platforms, such as social media, mobile devices, and television. Additionally, the authors suggest that news organizations should work to build trust with their audiences by providing accurate and unbiased reporting and by engaging with their communities.

Another important strategy is to address the underlying social and cultural factors that contribute to news avoidance. This can be done by promoting education and literacy, by promoting diversity and inclusion, and by addressing social and economic inequality. Additionally, the authors suggest that news organizations should work to be more responsive to the needs of their audiences by providing personalized news and by engaging with their communities on social media.

Despite these strategies, news avoidance remains a significant problem in many countries. One of the challenges that news organizations face is the fact that many people are not interested in news. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as a lack of interest in politics, a lack of interest in current events, or a lack of trust in the media. Additionally, many people are busy with their daily lives and may not have the time to read or watch news.

To address this challenge, news organizations should work to be more creative and innovative in their approach to news delivery. This can be done by using data analytics to identify the interests of their audiences and by creating personalized news experiences that are tailored to their needs. Additionally, news organizations should work to be more responsive to the needs of their audiences by providing personalized news and by engaging with their communities on social media.

In conclusion, news avoidance is a significant problem that affects many people in many countries. While there are a number of strategies that can be used to address news avoidance, it is important to recognize that news avoidance is not just a matter of individual preferences or habits but is also shaped by broader social and cultural factors. By making news more accessible and engaging, by addressing the underlying social and cultural factors that contribute to news avoidance, and by being more creative and innovative in their approach to news delivery, news organizations can help to ensure that everyone has access to the information they need to make informed decisions about their lives and their communities.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231205191