Study Shows: Many Austrians Actively Avoid News

News consumption in Austria remains high, but over a third of the population believes that one does not need to actively seek information to enjoy relevant info. Among 16 to 30-year-olds, 59 percent even support this "News will find me" approach, where social media feeds or acquaintances bring in important news. This is shown by a new study from the Gallup Institute in cooperation with the Medienhaus Wien.

"News will find me": A third considers active info-seeking unnecessary

The phenomenon is particularly strong among people who (at times) deliberately avoid news. In total, 75 percent of the approximately 1,000 respondents in September - the study is representative of the web-active population aged 16 and over - state that they regularly or occasionally actively avoid news. Women are slightly more likely than men, and younger people more likely than older respondents to be among them. Education level and financial situation also play a role: people with the highest educational qualifications tend to avoid news, as do those who have financial difficulties.

Many news avoiders cite a felt discomfort (53 percent) as the reason. Gallup director Andrea Fronaschütz explained this with a "series of crises": "At some point, you say: 'Now I'm turning it off'". To a lesser extent, disinterest in the news situation and distrust follow. Especially people who sympathize with the Greens blame discomfort for avoiding news. Distrust, on the other hand, is most pronounced among FPÖ sympathizers. And among younger, news-avoiding people, disinterest (33 percent) is widespread. Media houses must therefore ask themselves: "With which topics am I relevant and of interest to the young?", said Fronaschütz.

Fake news suspected especially in free newspapers and alternative media

When asked which media spread fake news or misinformation, free newspapers and their online portals (37 percent) rank at the top. "Alternative media" located in the right or right-populist area, such as unzensuriert.at, "Info-Direkt" or exxpress.at, follow with 35 percent. The channels oe24.tv and krone.tv are considered by 28 percent to spread misinformation, while 20 percent do so with regard to ORF television programs.

These assessments vary greatly depending on party sympathy. For example, 44 percent of FPÖ sympathizers suspect fake news at ORF and, in return, feel significantly less distrust towards free newspapers and alternative media. NEOS and Green Party sympathizers, on the other hand, are particularly critical of free newspapers and alternative media. "We see a solidification here. It is developing more and more apart," said Andy Kaltenbrunner, managing director of Medienhaus-Wien. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a common basis for fact-oriented discussion when ORF is seen as factually distant by almost half of the electorate of the strongest party," Kaltenbrunner warned, calling for a media-political and socio-political debate on this.

Media Relevant for Democracy

Almost all respondents (95 percent) see independent media as important for democracy in Austria. However, only two-thirds rate the contribution they actually make to democracy as very or rather large. The image of journalists is still "predominantly positive" even among regular news avoiders, Fronaschütz explained. So it is not due to the journalistic personnel, but rather to the nature of the media and the general situation that leads to news avoidance.

Kaltenbrunner sees a "tipping point" reached in this regard. "The risk is that more and more will be lost. However, if journalism responds to this, there is still a chance to ensure news consumption among large parts of the population." As a possible way out, the media expert sees giving journalism a face and showing how news is made.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.