What Draws Readers to the News? "User Needs" Disclose Answers

Everyone is constantly and endlessly inundated with information in the modern era, and many attribute this to the news in particular. Even though it might be confusing to keep up with all that is happening, individuals keep taking in this flood of information. The reason for this is the question.

A "user needs" research, carried out by the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford, looks at the motivations driving news consumption worldwide. They exposed the fundamental reason behind everyone's need for continual upgrades.

"User needs" and the intake of news

News firms carefully analyze audience demands using the "user needs model," according to the Reuters Institute. It was created by the BBC to categorize news items based on people's fundamental need.

They investigated why individuals follow the news using such data. Reuters only looks at four of the eight needs identified in the most recent edition, User Needs 2.0.

Knowledge is participation and being up to speed with current events.

News that enables readers to get a deeper understanding of subjects and events is referred to as understanding.

News that entertains and uplifts people's spirits is referred to as feeling news.

News that teaches people useful knowledge and fosters a sense of community is what doing involves.

After looking at 47 nations, the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford discovered that 65% of people value knowledge and understanding.

After looking at 47 nations, the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford discovered that 65% of people value knowledge and understanding.

Fifty-five percent want news that empowers people to take meaningful action. Furthermore, 50% of users search for news that makes them feel anything, making it the least crucial demand.

These UK-based organizations also took a closer look at the demands of the users. Sixty-seven percent sought in-depth knowledge on certain topics, and seventy-two percent wanted the most recent updates.

Sixty-three percent want a viewpoint on issues, while 47 percent used news as a distraction.

According to Reuters, because there are so many diversions in today's media, individuals consider this user requirement to be the least significant.

The Press Freedom Index 2024 is cited in the report to illustrate the demands of users by nation. According to the ranking, press freedom in the Philippines is ranked 134th.

For this reason, knowledge is its most important fundamental necessity. larger press freedom holders place a larger value on understanding. News media may reach more people with uplifting or distracting material, according to research from the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford.

But informed coverage shouldn't suffer in the process of pursuing this goal. Given that press freedom is lesser in the Philippines, this observation is particularly relevant there.