Journalism

How youth navigate the news landscape

A new report finds that teens and young adults express low levels of trust in the news media and use a variety of strategies to confirm, verify, and clarify the stories they care about, according to a study produced by Data & Society Research Institute and supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The report, “How Youth Navigate the News Landscape,” explores youth news consumption behavior on mobile and social media. It reveals how young people are adapting to a changing media environment to access news they trust.

The report is based on findings from six exploratory focus groups with 52 teenagers and young adults in three U.S. cities: Philadelphia, Chicago, and Charlotte, North Carolina. With a focus on understanding the growing influence of mobile devices, social media, and messaging apps, the report provides insights for journalists and other organizations looking to engage younger audiences in the growing mobile news ecosystem.