In Australia in 2018, 40 percent of adults aged 35 and older said they had bought a printed newspaper within the last week. Notably, the same share of those under 35 said the same. Compared to two years previously, the share of under 35 has increased but the share of those over 35 buying newspapers has reduced.
Global context and online subscriptions
The share of Australians who have physical or digital news subscriptions remains below 50 percent; 39 percent of mature adults had a subscription, whereas only six percent of trailing millennials had one. Uptake of paid online news subscriptions are still falling slightly behind printed newspapers. In the same year, just under 30 percent of under 35s said they paid for an online subscription and 17 percent of over 35s.
The Australian printed newspaper and book market has, in recent years, paralleled global trends; year on year, industry turnover has fallen, dropping below three billion Australian dollars for the first time in 2018.
Media brand trust
Nationally, most Australians trust the country’s media outlets. In a 2020 survey, ABC news was the most trusted media band; 72 percent of respondents said they trusted the company compared to 12 percent who said they did not. SBS news achieved a similar score; 71 percent said they trusted them, and ten percent did not.
Share of consumers who pay for printed newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by age
The survey question was phrased as follows: "Have you bought (paid for) a printed newspaper in the last week? (This could be an ongoing subscription or one off payment for a physical copy). Please select all that apply".
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APO, & University of Canberra. (June 17, 2019). Share of consumers who pay for printed newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 02, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/892451/australia-printed-newspaper-consumption-by-age/
APO, und University of Canberra. "Share of consumers who pay for printed newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by age." Chart. June 17, 2019. Statista. Accessed December 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/892451/australia-printed-newspaper-consumption-by-age/
APO, University of Canberra. (2019). Share of consumers who pay for printed newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/892451/australia-printed-newspaper-consumption-by-age/
APO, and University of Canberra. "Share of Consumers Who Pay for Printed Newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Jun 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/892451/australia-printed-newspaper-consumption-by-age/
APO & University of Canberra, Share of consumers who pay for printed newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/892451/australia-printed-newspaper-consumption-by-age/ (last visited December 02, 2024)
Share of consumers who pay for printed newspapers in Australia in 2016 and 2018, by age [Graph], APO, & University of Canberra, June 17, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/892451/australia-printed-newspaper-consumption-by-age/