News consumption pattern changing, global audiences turn to video platforms – Reuters

Globally, the way people consume news is changing rapidly, with audiences increasingly turning to online video platforms for information, analysis and live updates, Reuters Study has shown.

The latest and comprehensive study from the 2026 Reuters News Annual Report reveals that from YouTube and TikTok to Instagram and Facebook, video has become a preferred medium for millions of consumers worldwide seeking news that is visual, engaging and easy to understand.

The annual report, which relied on nearly 100,000 respondents in 48 markets, creates a picture of an industry undergoing deep change as audiences move away from traditional news websites and television towards social media platforms.

The report states that 77% of the global sample population consumes Online news video every week, with a majority now watching online news video in every market covered in the report.

“On average, news organisations have seen video consumption on their own sites and apps fall by five points from 2025 and by 10 points since 2021. A quarter of those who follow news on YouTube watch videos for more than 20 minutes, and a fifth go to the platform to watch live broadcasts”, the report noted.

The report further stated that for the first time at the global level, video platforms and networks have overtaken television and organisations’ own websites as the most widely used way of accessing news.

This shift, according to the report, has happened in around two-thirds of the markets surveyed, with direct access still leading in Western and Central Europe and more affluent Asian markets.

Importantly, the findings which reveal the growing importance of video is challenging publishers to rethink formats and audience engagement strategies. Presently, media companies are adapting to the new changes, introducing news in visual and accessible platforms.

The Reuters report also revealed that trust in news has dropped to 37% in about 30 of the 48 countries surveyed. “This is the lowest level since the report started measuring trust metrics 11 years ago. The highest falls were recorded in the Philippines, Ireland, Thailand, Peru and Poland,” the report said.

In spite of the trends and changes in the media landscape, the Reuters report states that audiences still value trustworthy reporting and impartial journalism.

The report said 27% of respondents globally get some news from news-focused individual creators and influencers, but “these creators mostly complement rather than replace traditional media”.

The global audience, the report says, tends to see creators as more entertaining and engaging but less trustworthy and less impartial than established outlets.