The rise of online video news is posing a significant challenge for traditional news organizations, as per a global survey released on Monday. The survey, conducted by the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford in Britain, stated that artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to further reduce traffic to news websites and apps.
According to the report, a major “platform reset” is underway due to tech innovations and changing consumer patterns impacting the operations of social media and search engines. Some platforms are now prioritizing creators over publishers, pushing for more engaging formats like video to retain attention within their platforms.
The survey found that roughly two-thirds of respondents watched short news videos at least once a week, with 72 percent of these videos being consumed on platforms such as YouTube. However, with so much content available on these platforms, news organizations are struggling to capitalize on this trend and maintain their relevance in the digital age.
Interestingly, only 22 percent of respondents considered news websites and apps as their primary news sources, a 10 percent decrease from 2018. Instead, people are turning to partisan commentators, influencers, and celebrities for their news – especially among younger audiences on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
The report highlights successful content creators like French YouTuber Hugo Decrypte who produces political explanation videos for young viewers and has a substantial following on TikTok. Jack Kelly in Britain and Vitus Spehar in the United States are also examples of successful content creators in this space.
However, the report also mentioned declining overall interest in news, increased avoidance of news content due to its overwhelming nature and low levels of trust in news sources – all factors that AI could worsen by generating large amounts of low-quality content and synthetic media with questionable credibility.
In conclusion, while online video news presents new opportunities for traditional news organizations to reach new audiences through engaging formats like video
