Trust in news coverage has risen throughout the coronavirus pandemic and three quarters of Australians would miss local offerings if they shut down, a report has found.
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A survey of 2000 adults found 62 per cent believed independent journalism was important for society, but just 14 per cent paid for online news.
The Digital News Report: Australia 2020 by the University of Canberra's News and Media Research Centre also found trust in news grew throughout the pandemic to 53 per cent.
However despite news consumption increasing, interest has fallen.
Television bulletins remained the most popular way to consume news, but this was declining.
The report's lead author, Associate Professor Sora Park, said those who wanted their opinions reflected in the news were more likely to pay for it, and social media users wanted news to support their view more than traditional media users.
The survey found one in five people wanted news to support their point of view, 13 per cent wanted news to challenge it and more than half sought impartiality.
Dr Park said the findings raised concerns about social media allowing users to select information that suited their viewpoint.
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Less than half of generation Z rate impartiality as important, compared to three quarters of people 50 and over.
Despite mass closures of local newspapers amid a shift to online news consumption, the survey found they were the main source of information for almost half of regional news consumers, particularly the elderly.
As bushfires ravaged regional communities last summer, 45 per cent were interested in local news.
And, at the end of the devastating fire season, four out of five people considered climate change a serious problem.
"Despite the drought and bushfires and floods, regional news consumers think it is less of a problem than city news consumers," Dr Park said.
Australia is behind only the USA (12 per cent) and Sweden (9 per cent) for the most news consumers internationally who don't see climate change as a major issue.
One third of people who consumed AM radio and Sky News did not view climate change to be serious, as did 32 per cent of Fox News consumers.
Kathryn Lewis
I am a breaking and general news reporter. Contact me with tips or story ideas at kathryn.lewis@canberratimes.com.au
I am a breaking and general news reporter. Contact me with tips or story ideas at kathryn.lewis@canberratimes.com.au
