Reuters Institute: Digital News Report 2025

The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2025 is based on a survey of around 100,000 people in 48 markets. It provides a comprehensive overview of how access to news is changing worldwide. The report is an important indicator for corporate communications. It not only shows which platforms are gaining in importance and how media usage is shifting, but also the role that new technologies such as artificial intelligence play in this.

It is clear that more and more people are turning away from the news. Despite consistent trust levels, many regularly or occasionally avoid contact with the news. In Germany, this applies to 38 percent of respondents. The reasons for this range from being overwhelmed to frustration with the tone of reporting. This makes it more difficult for communicators to reliably achieve reach with relevant content.

At the same time, usage patterns are changing. Social networks and video platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are used as central news sources, especially by younger target groups. In Germany, YouTube is now the most widely used platform for news. Podcasts are also playing a growing role. Traditional media, on the other hand, continue to lose reach and engagement.

The report also shows that AI-supported tools such as ChatGPT are already perceived as a news source. Usage is still low, but interest is growing among young people. Attitudes towards the role of AI in news production are ambivalent. Many appreciate personalized content and translations, but at the same time there are still doubts about its trustworthiness.

Overall, the report shows a profoundly changing news ecosystem. Anyone who wants to remain visible in communication must therefore adapt to changing usage habits, new technical interfaces and an increasingly selective public.