The consumption of news is changing and here is where everyone is heading...

We all know that how people consume media is changing. I regularly ask fellow travellers, many much younger than me, where they find their news, and the answer is, if they even do: social media. “I look on TikTok,” is a standard response. This isn’t going to be a column about how much it depresses me that global affairs is condensed into a 30-second clip but rather a look at how much the media landscape is changing. 

Last week Reuters Institute published its 2026 Digital News Report which found that for the first time at a global level (averaging across 48 markets) social media and video networks are the single most widely used way of accessing online news (used by 54% of all respondents), ahead of news organisations’ own websites and apps (51%). 

This pattern is happening amongst all age groups. 

For the first time, the report found that a majority of people now watch online news video in all 48 markets covered, with 77% of people worldwide watching online news videos each week. In 45 markets more people now watch online news videos than watch news on TV. Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands are the only three countries where TV news leads or is on a par with watching news online.

Not good news for publishers: the report found that the growth in online video consumption is happening on third-party platforms while mainstream news organisations have recorded an average drop of 5 percentage points (pp) this year for video consumption on their own sites and apps. Meanwhile, just over a quarter (27%) of people now watch on-demand news via apps like YouTube on their smart TVs. Globally, 30% of people now state that social media and video networks are their main source of news – up from 22% five years ago. Gulp.

The report found that TikTok (growing fastest from a small base, used by 20% globally for news) and Instagram (more modest growth, but a more significant presence – 26% usage for news) are the fastest growing video-led networks and are driving much of the change together with YouTube (34% for news). Facebook continues to be the biggest platform overall for news consumption (used by 43% this year), reversing recent declines.

This reliance on third-party platforms is worrying. We’ve recently seen the impact of Google AI Overviews and AI platforms such as ChatGPT on traffic to publishers’ websites. It only takes more changes by these billionaire-led platforms and then more of their audience is at risk. This is why publishers need to also build direct lines with their audiences through other avenues such as newsletters.

Personally I have noticed a huge uptick in the last few months of magazines and newspapers investing more in video. CN Traveller, for instance, has started showcasing a video of a destination and the BBC, Guardian and i Paper are increasingly delivering news and features via reporter-led video clips. For example, an i Paper columnist will give a short take on their latest work via video (I saw one freelance journalist say she was aggrieved that wasn’t paid extra for this, but I think she fought back) or a Guardian writer will report via a short video clip on Instagram. Increasingly the written word is being replaced by video. 

This move towards video means that PRs and business owners will also need to think more about how video can form part of their offering. I know when freelancing on Radio 4's Today programme, we were often had to think about whether an interview could lend itself to video – i.e. could this do well on the socials, where it could potentially be consumed more widely than a Radio 4 Today programme that runs from 6am-9am. Having clients prepped for short snappy punchy soundbites for clips that may end up packaged within a 30 seconds clip on social media will be even more important (here to add: if you need a media trainer, please email me). 

What it means for journalists engrained in the written word is less obvious. Or perhaps it isn't. We need to start using video more, boosting our video skills, and moving to where our audience are going (as much as I much prefer print), before we lose them and other fresher (young) journalists replace us.