Digital news readership catches up with print

News media readership in print and on digital devices is now level, with 13 million Australians reading newspapers and 13.2m reading news media on digital platforms, according to the latest emma (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) data for September 2017 released today.

Across all platforms, including print, news media was read by 16.7m people, or 90% of the total population in September.

National news media was read by 2.4m, or 13% of the population. Metro newspapers were read by 10.8m people, or 58% of consumers, over the same period.

Regional and community news media brands were read by 6.7m people, or 36% of the population during September. A total of 3.1m people (or 17% aged 14+) read regional newspapers, while community newspapers were read by 3.8m (or 20% aged 14+).

“News media publishers have recognised for some years the migration to consuming news content on digital devices and pioneered digital news experiences for their readers. We are now seeing balanced readership between print and digital news brands, but the one constant is that their audiences seek and engage with trusted, quality journalism,” NewsMediaWorks CEO Peter Miller said.

The Sydney Morning Herald is Australia’s highest-reaching title across all platforms with 5.21m readers. The Herald Sun followed, reaching 4.44m readers, and The Daily Telegraph on 4.39m (see table below).