4 May 2006

Going online to read up on the news of the day is becoming popular among young adults, according to a new international survey.

More than 10,000 people in ten countries across the world were polled by Globescan for the BBC, Reuters and US thinktank The Media Centre and the number of adults who said the Internet was their most important news source increased as age reduced.

Among 18- to 24-year-olds this figure was 19 per cent and 11 per cent of people aged between 25 and 34 said the Internet was their top news source. This compares to just four per cent of 45- to 54-year-olds and three per cent of those aged between 55 and 64.

In addition, 71 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds said they valued the opportunity to access news using Internet or wireless technologies.

With all the people surveyed, 38 per cent said they think the Internet is a trusted news source, as opposed to 20 per cent who are suspicious of news websites.

The leader is national television news, with 82 per cent regarding it as a trusted source of news.

© Adfero Ltd

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