A year ago the entire nation went into self-isolation.
The News Publishers’ Association (NPA) wanted to explore how New Zealanders’ relationship with news media had changed over the past 12 months. The NPA commissioned a study to research the evolving news media habits of New Zealanders; the NPA Post-COVID News Engagement Study.
Fieldwork was undertaken March 5 – 14, 2021 and initial findings support the hypothesis that behaviour and engagement has changed as a result of the unprecedented year that was 2020. With fieldwork only recently completed, today we’re sharing initial toplines and over the next few months we’ll be sharing in-depth insights from our Post-COVID News Engagement Study. Be sure to stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter ‘InBrief’.
52%
of respondents are engaging more with news websites/apps compared to a year ago.
72%
say NZ newspapers and news media are highly important to them in the post-COVID world.
67%
believe NZ newspapers and news media are an important element of the social fabric of New Zealand.
63%
of respondents say it is more important than ever that New Zealand has local newspapers and news media.
Here’s what New Zealanders had to say one year after lockdown:
The news media did a lot of work to explain complex but vital topics in a way that was easy to follow, and they often did it in short time frames and extraordinary conditions. The pandemic moved extremely quickly, but the news media kept up, with stories that mattered.
Female | 25-29 | Waikato
In the age of so much disinformation I appreciate the integrity and quality of good journalism when I see it.
Male | 30-34 | Wellington
In today’s world of so-called ‘fake news,’ where social media is rife with rumours and falsehoods (QAnon to wit), established media that is well-credentialed is truly invaluable.
Female | 55-59 | Auckland
I didn’t see newspapers as a source of important information for me personally before the COVID pandemic, but now I rely on them and media a lot more for information regarding the state of the country.
Female | 18-24 | Otago
We’ll be sharing further insights from our Post-COVID News Engagement Study as we delve further into the results. In June we plan to take the full study results on tour, be sure to stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter ‘InBrief’ or contact your Account Manager for more info.
Research by InsightFull Ltd for the News Publishers’ Association March 2021
Nationally representative sample of n=1,225 New Zealanders 18+ who engage in some way with New Zealand newspapers or news media.
Fieldwork March 5 – 14, 2021. Results weighted by age, gender and location. Margin of error at the 95% confidence level +/-2.8%.