A new report from the International News Media Association discusses the issues of news avoidance.
A new report from the International News Media Association (INMA) highlights the growing issue of news avoidance in the media industry and offers strategies for companies to engage audiences and enhance their sustainability.
The report, titled How Media Companies Can Combat News Avoidance and authored by INMA Ideas Blog editor Paula Felps, outlines the psychological aspects of news avoidance and the associated costs that this trend imposes on audience engagement and financial stability for news organisations. The increasing phenomena of news fatigue, mistrust in the media and the overwhelming amount of digital content are cited as key factors contributing to a notable decline in the consumption of news.
Felps identifies four primary solutions aimed at countering news avoidance, based on insights drawn from interviews with industry experts, INMA master classes and town halls, along with various case studies. The findings underline the necessity for news media to not only acknowledge the issue but also to take proactive measures to rebuild audience engagement and trust, thus securing the future of journalism in an increasingly digital landscape.
The report draws on examples from various news organisations globally, including Germany’s Rheinische Post, Deutsche Welle and Der Spiegel, as well as The Daily Aus from Australia and Vox Media’s The Logoff newsletter based in the United States.
These case studies demonstrate how these companies are adapting to the rising challenge of avoidance by innovating user experiences to cultivate new relationships with audiences.
Felps points out that the trend of news avoidance is particularly prevalent among younger demographics who are more inclined to access news via social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, as opposed to traditional news outlets. This shift presents a challenge for news media companies that are keen to retain their readership and necessitates a reevaluation of strategies to re-engage these audiences while emphasising the value of trustworthy journalism.
The report serves as a reference point for media professionals navigating the complexities of audience engagement in the current landscape, illuminating the importance of adapting to evolving consumer behaviours and expectations in a digital-first world.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.inma.org/blogs/main/post.cfm/new-inma-report-focuses-on-how-to-combat-news-avoidance – This URL supports the claim about the INMA report titled ‘How Media Companies Can Combat News Avoidance’ and its focus on strategies to address news avoidance in the media industry.
- https://www.inma.org/blogs/main/post.cfm/new-inma-report-focuses-on-how-to-combat-news-avoidance – It also corroborates the report’s emphasis on psychological aspects of news avoidance and its impact on audience engagement and financial stability.
- https://www.inma.org/blogs/main/post.cfm/new-inma-report-focuses-on-how-to-combat-news-avoidance – Additionally, it highlights the report’s use of case studies from news organisations like Rheinische Post and Vox Media to illustrate innovative strategies against news avoidance.
- https://www.inma.org/blogs/world-congress/post.cfm/news-subscription-myths-include-a-ceiling-fatigue-news-avoidance – This URL supports the discussion about news avoidance not being a business problem for news organisations but rather a societal issue, according to INMA’s Greg Piechota.
- https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2023/dnr-executive-summary – It corroborates the trend of declining news engagement and the prevalence of selective news avoidance, particularly among younger demographics.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The report is recent, published in 2025, and discusses current trends in news avoidance, indicating high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative to verify.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable industry publication, Indian Printer & Publisher, though it may not be as well-known globally as major news outlets like BBC or Reuters.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about news avoidance and strategies to combat it are plausible and align with current media trends.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, discussing current media trends, and originates from a reputable industry publication. The lack of direct quotes does not detract from its overall credibility.