The Evolving News Landscape: Insights from Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025
Edited & fact-checked by @jorgebscomm
 |
| Understanding how people get news has never been more crucial. (📷:foto.wuestenigel) |
The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025 shows a sharp shift away from traditional media toward social networks and video platforms for news. Across most countries, fewer people report regularly using TV, print, or news websites, while many more now rely on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and the like. For example, about one-third of respondents globally use Facebook (36%) or YouTube (30%) each week to get news. Other social apps also play a major role: roughly 19% turn to Instagram and 19% to WhatsApp for news, and TikTok (16%) is already ahead of X/Twitter (12%). These many “mini-newspapers” on our phones and feeds mean news consumption is more fragmented than ever. In fact, the study notes that six different online platforms now reach at least 10% of people weekly with news – up from just two platforms a decade ago.
 |
| (📷:reuters) |
The United States illustrates this change most starkly. For the first time in the survey’s history, more Americans say they get news via social and video networks (54%) than from TV (50%) or from news websites/apps (48%). In other words, the classic “evening news” on television has been eclipsed by algorithm-driven feeds and viral clips on smartphones. As the report puts it, “social and video networks” have overtaken traditional channels in the U.S.. This smartphone-driven shift means news isn’t confined to mornings or primetime: it happens in snippets on Instagram, live streams on TikTok, or quick video summaries on apps. In many countries – from Kenya to India – people now say they prefer watching the news over reading it, further fuelling the rise of personality-led video news.
Rise of Creators and Alternative Voices
The democratisation of media means online personalities and influencers are shaping debates as never before. The report describes a “fragmented alternative media environment” filled with podcasters, YouTubers and TikTokers that compete for attention. Populist politicians and public figures are increasingly bypassing traditional press to speak directly through these channels. For instance, one-fifth (22%) of U.S. respondents encountered news or commentary from podcaster Joe Rogan in the week after the 2025 inauguration. In France, a young creator known as HugoDécrypte reaches about 22% of under-35s with his YouTube/TikTok news summaries. In many Asian markets, local influencers play a similarly outsized role. These new “news stars” can have huge followings among youth, but they often lack the accountability of traditional journalism. In an age of feeds and followers, the medium is indeed part of the message (and that can mean a personal or partisan spin on the news).
Trust and the Information Dilemma
Against this backdrop, public trust in news remains fragile. The survey finds that 58% of people are concerned about their ability to distinguish true news from false online, a figure virtually unchanged from last year. Worry is especially high in the United States and across Africa (each 73%), where social media use is widespread. By contrast, Western Europeans express less anxiety on this front (46%). When asked who is responsible for spreading false or misleading news, respondents worldwide pointed to online influencers and national politicians (47% each) – far above news organisations. In countries like Nigeria or Kenya, nearly 60% singled out influencers as a top source of fake news, whereas Americans and Eastern Europeans blamed politicians most.
 |
| (📷:reuters) |
This uncertainty is mirrored in low trust levels. The report notes that overall trust in news hovers around 40% globally. That figure has been flat for the past three years, yet it is about four points lower than during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In practical terms, this means fewer than half of people feel they can generally trust the news they encounter. The public is also divided on how much tech platforms should police content: most Germans and Britons think not enough is removed, while Americans are split along ideological lines. This tug-of-war over moderation reflects a broader cultural split over free speech vs. safety online, a divide highlighted by the report across U.S. and European audiences.
Audio and Video News
The rise of new formats is reshaping who listens and watches. The report shows social video for news is booming – jumping from 52% of users in 2020 to 65% in 2025. In the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya and India, a growing majority now says they prefer a video or audio news story to a text article. News outlets are responding with video versions of stories and on-the-go clips. Podcasting is another bright spot, especially for younger, educated audiences. In the United States, about 15% of respondents said they listened to a news podcast in the past week – among the highest rates in the world. Many of these programs now also publish highlights on YouTube or TikTok. Northern Europe’s public broadcasters have been slower to embrace video podcasts, but even there the lines between audio and video news are blurring.
 |
| (📷:reuters) |
These trends suggest that multimedia storytelling is no longer niche: sound and vision matter more than ever, especially for younger consumers. Traditional radio and print still have audiences, but to stay relevant newsrooms increasingly need to meet people where they are — on social feeds with video explainers, or on smart speakers with concise summaries.
AI and the Future of News
A new player has emerged on the scene: artificial intelligence. For the first time, the survey asked about AI chatbots as a news source. Overall, 7% of people report using AI assistants (like ChatGPT) to get news weekly – but that jumps to 15% among under-25s. These figures may seem small for now, yet they indicate a trend: search engines and social apps are beginning to integrate generative AI news features. Indeed, among those who do use chatbots, ChatGPT is the leading service for news, followed by Google’s Gemini and Meta’s AI. As these tools improve, they could reshape habits (and ad money) by offering personalised summaries or answers.
The report finds mixed attitudes towards this AI shift. Many people do see potential upsides: 27% welcome automatic summarisation of stories, 24% want instant translations of news, 21% like the idea of smart recommendations, and 18% would use chatbots to ask questions about current events. These features could make complex news more accessible. However, readers remain cautious about handing all the keys to algorithms. Most say they are uncomfortable with AI-produced news unless humans stay “in the loop”. Across 37 markets, respondents generally expect AI to make news cheaper to produce (+29 net) and more up-to-date (+16), but they also believe it will make news less transparent (-8), less accurate (-8), and less trustworthy (-18). In short, people worry that AI might cut costs at the expense of quality.
 |
| (📷:reuters) |
In this environment, the value of human editors and trusted outlets is highlighted. When unsure about facts, people still turn most often to recognised news brands (including public broadcasters) and official sources. Younger adults are more willing to check social media or AI chats, but overall legacy media remain the most-cited reference points for truth.
Sustainability and Takeaways
The report underscores a challenge for journalism: audiences are splintering, and paying for news remains hard. After several years of growth, digital subscriptions appear to be plateauing. About 18% of people in the richer countries surveyed say they pay for any online news. This figure is roughly unchanged from last year. The willingness to pay varies widely: in Norway and Sweden the share is very high (42% and 31%), while in the United States only one in five users pays for news. At the low end, just 6–7% pay in places like Greece, Serbia or Croatia. Most people still get along with free content.
 |
| (📷:reuters) |
What should news organisations do? The data suggests that innovation is key: meeting young audiences on social video or audio, experimenting with AI tools that add value (not replace journalists), and finding new business models such as flexible bundles of content. It also suggests staying true to core strengths: the trusted brands and fact-checkers that people turn to in doubt. Finally, it reminds us that one size does not fit all: each country and demographic has its own habits and needs.
 |
| The Reuters Institute’s 14th Digital News Report (2025) draws on nearly 100,000 surveys across 48 countries. (📷:reuters) |
The Reuters Institute’s 2025 report paints a complex picture. News consumption is more mobile, social and fragmented than ever. Trust in information is low and social influencers carry weight. New technologies like AI are both promising and unnerving. For media professionals and citizens alike, these findings underline a simple truth: we are living through one of the most disruptive periods in the history of news, and adapting thoughtfully is not optional.
⭐⭐⭐
Comments