According to Jicerg data, UK online audiences for local media have grown around 18% to 37.6 million people in the past year.
Because of COVID-19, more people are now turning to local media sites for information around coronavirus. As a result, local media enjoys 17.9% surge in online audiences. Around 78.5% of the UK population over the age of 15 access local journalism either in print or digital every month. Though digital has been the main driver in the growth of local media consumption, local news brands’ reach grew 7.7% year-on-year.
The study also found an 18.5% increase in young people taking to their mobile to read local news, reaching 10.9 million people between 15 and 34 years old. Chief executive of Newsquest, Henry Faure said, “The pandemic not only prompted a renewed interest in local life but it also created a surge in people wanting quality local information and reporting that they could rely on. As a result, local news brands now reach more people than ever before.”
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