A NEW SURVEY has revealed that Irish people are increasingly turning to digital media to get their news.
BBC Worldwide research has shown that newspaper websites are now beating their hard copy equivalents by about 2.5 per cent as a source for news and current affairs.
Television still dominates the market with 63 per cent of respondents stating that it is still their main source. Breaking news and sports continue to be the biggest drivers of content consumption for Irish people.
However, when the research agency Sponge It looked at the frequency of news consumption, online platforms were well ahead. More than half of respondents use smartphone apps more than twice a day to consume news.
In terms of what apps are used, RTÉ tops the list at 56.3 per cent, followed by BBC at 41.5 per cent. TheJournal.ie features at number five with 20.1 per cent, marginally behind the Irish Times on 22.9 per cent.
“Today’s results are a great indication that news consumption in Ireland is in robust health, and that consumers appreciate the traditional print outlets for news, as well as the new digital platforms,” said the BBC’s Isla McLeod.
She said the results should also be welcomed by advertisers who are looking to reach a “highly desirable audience”.
When visiting websites for news and sport, RTE.ie is again the most popular choice, followed once more by BBC.com.
The survey also asked people about what gadgets they currently own. About 83 per cent have a laptop, while 64 per cent own a smartphone. Just over one in five have purchased a tablet computer such as an iPad.
The research was carried out in January and February during which 828 people were polled.
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