The surprising news source we’re all still glued to

Television is still the world’s favourite source of news, according to a new report from Nielsen.

The study looked at responses from more than 30,000 online consumers from 60 countries. It found that despite a rise in the use of online media, such as websites and search engines, television remains the most popular news format, with 53% of respondents naming it as their number one source of information.

Other traditional types of media are less popular, with print newspapers chosen by 18%, radio by 11% and print magazines by 8%. However, people seem to prefer newspaper websites to TV news websites, magazine websites and radio websites.

Search engines are the second most popular media source, after TV. This is followed by social media, which is the preferred choice of 33% of respondents. Social media is, unsurprisingly, the top choice of Generation Z respondents (people between the ages of 15 and 20), but for all other age ranges, including millennials (21-34 year olds), TV is the preferred option.

The older generations rely more on traditional sources, such as TV and newspapers, for the news, while younger generations have largely gone online, using social media and search engines. Interestingly, though, search engines featured in the top three for all generations.

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Author: Emma Luxton is a Digital Content Producer at Formative Content. 

Image: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is seen through a viewfinder, in Madrid June 12, 2014. REUTERS/Susana Vera