Context
The 11th Digital News Report Spain 2024 cannot be interpreted outside the electoral context experienced in our country during 2023 or the social concern about the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. In these uncertain times, quality, independent and pluralistic journalism is necessary. However, one more year, media directors have to face the distrust and disinterest in the news and the growing concern about disinformation.
As in the ten previous editions, the causes behind this status are complex. It is not possible to understand the current information ecosystem without analyzing the role played by social networks as information channels, especially among the youngest. The overabundance of content, the absence of verification mechanisms, anonymity and the rapid viralization of messages - genuine or false - have consequences not only for news companies, but also for society as a whole.
This tsunami of digital news explains part of the information fatigue that many respondents express, which is reflected in a growing information disconnection, in the fall in the consumption of news through almost all media (digital or not) and in the increase in the demand for new news formats such as podcasts or news videos.
With all media directors trying to reconnect with their audiences, it is worth asking what citizens expect from the media and how they value the information they receive. It is also necessary to analyze how to win back the trust of their readers, in a year in which distrust seems to be stagnating and the credibility of the main journalistic brands is recovering slightly. As if that were not enough, 2023 has been the year of artificial intelligence (AI), also in journalism. With its rapid implementation in newsrooms, new opportunities have opened up, as well as new concerns and uncertainties about the impact that this new tool may have on the quality of journalism.
In-depth analysis
Therefore, in addition to the usual analysis of news consumption, this year's report takes a closer look at how citizens use social networks for information and the credibility they give to each platform. It also explores the knowledge and the attitudes of Spaniards towards artificial intelligence, characterized by a B familiarity of respondents with this technology and with a great reservation towards automated content.
We also studied the different needs that the audience expects to find in the news and how it values the role played by the media in meeting (or not) those needs, as well as what aspects it weighs when judging the credibility of the news. From the point of view of new formats, the focus was on the growing consumption of news videos. Finally, this year we were not satisfied with just knowing how many people pay for information, but also what is the maximum amount they are paying for news and how much those who do not yet do so would be willing to pay.
As in previous years, the 11th edition of the Digital News Report Spain presents above all a diverse news ecosystem, in which multiple audiences coexist: confident and skeptical, interested and apathetic, traditional and digital, audiences subscribed to traditional journalistic brands and fans of new digital native media or social networks. This executive report attempts to summarize the main findings and trends in news consumption, which can be found in more detail in each of the chapters of report.
Automated news: better with journalists behind the wheel
More than half of the respondents in Spain (59%) are informed about artificial intelligence, which indicates a high level of knowledge about this technology. However, the acceptance of its application in journalism is not uniform. A B 44% of the audience expresses discomfort with news generated mostly by AI, even when there is journalistic supervision. 60% of respondents were sample particularly concerned about the use of automated news in serious topics (politics, international or events) than when it is used in less critical topics (45%). In this second subject of topics, 34% are indifferent to the use or not of automated news and another 34% are not bothered by it.
Expected functions of journalism: timeliness, depth and plurality
Spaniards especially value news that keeps them informed about what is happening on a daily basis (74%), that helps them understand more about different topics and events (69%), that offers them different points of view on current affairs (67%) and that provides them with useful information and internship for their daily lives (63%). Among the least valued functions, although with notable percentages of relevance among respondents, are those news that help citizens get involved in society's problems (58%), that make them feel connected to the rest of society (56%), that are entertaining (55%) and that make them feel better about the world (52%).
However, most believe that the media have room for improvement. The largest gap between expected needs and met needs is in learning functions (69% value this but only 55% believe the media are doing it well) and in providing diverse viewpoints (67% value this function as important but only 53% believe the media are meeting it). This discrepancy points to a significant opportunity for the media to broaden their perspectives and approaches to news coverage, ensuring a more equitable representation of different points of view.
The loss of interest in information is (finally) halted
This year's data reveals that 52% of respondents maintain a high interest in news, representing a slight increase from the previous year and suggesting a slowdown in the loss of interest seen since 2015. That year 85% of users showed a high interest in news, a figure that has gradually declined to 52% in 2023.
This year's data also shows that current affairs appeals to only 38% of those under 35 and suggests that the media may need to adapt their strategies to better capture the attention of the younger audience. Among this group population, mental health and environmental issues are gaining interest.
There is a perception that certain critical issues are not receiving sufficient media coverage. While the majority of respondents perceive that the media offer abundant information on sports (72%), politics (65%), international news (62%), entertainment and local issues (61%), only half consider that there is sufficient coverage on crime and security (50%), Education (51%) or social justice (52%).
Transparency, representativeness and identity, guarantors of trust in the news
Trust in news remains a critical issue, especially among younger audiences. According to this year's data , 39% of respondents do not regularly trust the news, while only 33% say they trust the news. This lack of trust is more acute among those under 24 years of age, of whom only 19% trust the news. Furthermore, 30% of Spaniards neither have any interest in the news nor trust it, which highlights a significant detachment from the media.
Media polarization has intensified, especially among media with clearly defined editorial lines. In this context, news transparency (76%) and fair media representation (69%) are the factors most frequently mentioned by respondents when evaluating the trustworthiness of the news.
Around 62% of respondents value journalistic standards, media track record and ideological alignment between media and audiences as fundamental criteria for trusting the news.
Among the journalistic brands analyzed, regional and local newspapers emerge once again this year as the most trusted, with 54% of respondents expressing confidence in them. Notably, credibility in RTVE has increased this year by five percentage points, reaching 53% and surpassing Antena 3 Noticias (52%) as the most credible journalistic brand analyzed, with a particularly strong increase among young and left-wing respondents.
Social networks: use and trust
The panorama of the use of social networks as information channels in Spain has undergone significant changes in the last decade. The different use and credibility that different generational groups give to each platform stands out. WhatsApp has positioned itself as the leading informational social network in Spain (27% of respondents use it for information) and surpasses Facebook, whose informational use has decreased from 53% in 2014 to 26% in 2024.
For those under 35, Instagram (29%) and X (28%) have become the preferred social networks for checking news, while TikTok continues to gain popularity among this group (23%). In contrast, those over 35 still prefer Facebook (30%) and WhatsApp (29%), reflecting generational differences in the use of technologies and social media platforms.
Google Search and WhatsApp are perceived as the most trusted networks by the general public (55% and 53%, respectively). However, among those under 24 years of age, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube stand out as the most trusted networks. On the other hand, for the more adult population, Google Search, WhatsApp and Facebook are considered the most credible, while TikTok is viewed with greater skepticism, being the least trustworthy for this group (28%).
When they are informed by social networks, more than 40% preferentially follow journalistic brands and reporters and ordinary people, rather than politicians (20%) or influencers (25%).
70% of respondents concerned about misinformation
The problem of hoaxes and disinformation has become increasingly relevant in the media context in Spain and an alarming 70% of respondents expressed doubts about the veracity of online content. This skepticism is particularly pronounced among those who are more interested and trust the news: 87% are concerned about disinformation, compared to 59% of the disinterested and skeptical. In addition, there is a difference B in the perception of the risk of hoaxes between digital news subscribers (59%) and those who opt for free content (72%).
Regarding types of hoaxes, concern about misinformation about politics dominates in Spain (37% of respondents have identified hoaxes about this issue), followed by those concerning pandemic-related issues (29%) and Economics (28%). People over 45 tend to identify a higher percentage of fake content about politics, while young and middle-aged audiences are more likely to identify hoaxes about health issues. In the international arena, Spaniards have identified more hoaxes about the war in Gaza (24%) than about the war in Ukraine (16%).
Consumers with a high social media presence are particularly vulnerable to hoaxes and most frequently identify misinformation about health (53%) and politics (50%). However, less than 40% of users acknowledge being exposed to false or inaccurate content about war, immigration, Economics and the environment.
New formats: informative videos and podcasts
New news formats, such as podcasts and videos, are gaining ground in Spain, reflecting a shift in news consumption preferences among different demographic and socioeconomic groups.
In terms of news video consumption, 64% of the Spanish audience watches short videos on a weekly basis for information, and 46% participate in the consumption of live streaming or long videos. The most popular video topics include national politics (43%), international news (38%) and health and wellness (35%). Platforms of preference also vary by age: TikTok, Instagram and X are the most popular among young people, while adults mostly prefer Facebook and YouTube.
Podcast listening in Spain remains stable and is remarkably popular compared to the global average . Spain ranks as one of the countries with the highest consumption: 44% of respondents have listened to them, compared to 38% of average in 25 countries where this question was asked.
Interest in podcasts is gradually growing among those over 35 years of age, although young people continue to be the predominant listeners. There is a growing gap between the highest and lowest income levels of podcast listeners and programs of study.
In terms of topics, young people between 18 and 24 years of age show a preference for podcasts on social issues and events, accounting for 30% of their consumption, while those over 65 years of age opt mainly for current affairs, with 16%.
More news fatigue, more disconnection from the news
44% of Spaniards sample symptoms of information fatigue, attributable to overexposure to news. This condition is characterized by a feeling of exhaustion due to the constant avalanche of information, often conflictive or negative, that individuals must process on a daily basis.
37% of Spaniards actively avoid the news, an increase of eight percentage points compared to 2023. This phenomenon is particularly B among younger people, where 44% habitually disconnect from the news, in contrast to the 35% observed among those over 35.
The subject support employee significantly influences this trend. Those who use social networks as their main information channel have a higher rate of disconnection (44% avoid news), compared to television news consumers (33%) and print media readers (36%).
Television remains the queen of a diverse information per diem expenses
In Spain's news arena, television continues to maintain a robust leadership position: 56% of the population chooses it as their main news source , while social networks have seen a decline in their use to 48%. Specifically, social networks are the primary news source for 39% of those under 35, which sample a significant generational divide in media consumption preferences.
In general, the data of that year shows a slight decrease in the use of most media, both digital and traditional, except for the digital editions of radio and television, which maintain their share of use.
issue In terms of brands and audiences, the fall in the number of newspaper brands regularly consulted has slowed down: 54% of Spaniards are informed by five or more media outlets. This figure suggests a diversification in news consumption.
For the third consecutive year, 7% of those surveyed stated that they do not use any media to obtain information, a reflection of the information disconnection.
In the offline arena, television stations continue to dominate the weekly news audience. Antena 3 remains the offline brand with the highest weekly reach (41%) and the highest loyalty (31%), while RTVE sample shows the highest growth compared to the previous year (26% in reach and 18% in loyalty). In addition, for the first time, the digital edition of a television news service, Antena 3 Noticias, leads digital audiences in Spain (19% digital reach), marking a significant milestone in the transition to digital news consumption. At the same time, there is a consolidation of the main digital native newspapers among the most consulted media by Spaniards.
Pay for news: few pay a little for a lot
The model of payment for digital news in Spain sample a significant stability and remains at 12% of respondents, mainly supported by the model of subscriptions. The modalities of regular digital subscription or joint subscription with the print edition are the most frequent among those who paid for digital news. Thirty-five percent of those who paid did so through a regular digital subscription (down five points from the previous year) and 29% paid for a joint subscription to the digital and print editions of a medium (up four points).
Spain stands out for having a high proportion of respondents who choose to subscribe to more than one digital media, with almost half of those paying subscriptions (49%) subscribing to two or more media.
As for the price of these subscriptions, the majority of subscribers (56%) pay less than the average monthly rate, which is 10 euros. In the case of those who do not currently pay, the majority (51%) respond that they are not willing to pay anything for news at all, and 44% would pay less than the average monthly subscription. Only 5% of non-payers would be willing to pay 10 euros or more for digital news. All of these data suggest that, while there is a loyal core of consumers willing to pay for quality content, many are looking for cheaper options, and this possibly influences the pricing strategy and packages offered by news providers.
At the same time, payment for printed news is consolidated at around 20% of respondents. Despite the advance of digitalization, group of irreducibles still value the traditional format of printed news, possibly due to ingrained habits, the tangibility of print media or a perception of greater credibility.
Devices: mobile and smart
In Spain, the consolidation of the cell phone as the main device for getting information is evident: an overwhelming majority of 81% of users use it to access news. At the same time, there is growth in the popularity of devices such as smart speakers and smart watches, used by 23% and 19% of users respectively. This increase reflects a trend towards the integration of technology into everyday life in a way that facilitates even more immediate access to information.
On the other hand, the computer staff remains the second most used device to access news (57%). Finally, the tablet also persists as a relevant option for getting information (35%).
Access to digital news
Social networks are the access route most frequently mentioned by respondents (45%), followed by searching for a specific brand on search engine (39%) and searching for specific news through search engines (30%). This last form of access is the one that grew the most in the last year, eight percentage points more.
Social networks are the main means of access to digital news for 29% of respondents, being especially relevant among the youngest (38%).
In the last decade, forms of access to news based on algorithms (social networks and aggregators) have gained importance. In contrast, methods more closely linked to journalistic brands, such as direct access through websites or apps and the use of search engines, have declined in relevance.
Face-to-face and digital participation
In the area of social participation around news in Spain, there are dynamic patterns that reflect both the prevalence of traditional methods and the growing integration of digital platforms. Face-to-face conversation remains the most widespread form of participation; 39% of Spaniards choose this traditional method to discuss news.
In general, the participation of Spaniards has increased significantly, with 81% of respondents declaring that they have actively participated by reading comments, commenting or sharing news on digital platforms.
Spain stands out as a leader in Europe in the dissemination of news via instant messaging such as WhatsApp or Telegram: 30% of respondents use these services to share news. This not only reflects the popularity of these applications, but also how they are used as effective tools for the dissemination and discussion of current information.
Finally, the reading of comments on news published on social networks has grown significantly, rising from 24% in 2023 to 30% in 2024.
