Journalism.co.uk podcast Addressing consistent news avoidance, with Dr Benjamin Toff
Feb 15, 2024
Dr. Benjamin Toff, an assistant professor and director of the Minnesota Journalism Centre, dives deep into the phenomenon of news avoidance. He explains the differences between consistent and selective news avoiders and why understanding them matters for civic participation. Toff highlights how algorithms limit exposure to news and how many avoiders see it as a form of mental health protection. He also discusses strategies for news organizations to engage this audience by offering condensed, relevant content that aligns with their needs, urging a reevaluation of what engagement means.
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Consistent Avoidance Is A Distinct Phenomenon
- Consistent news avoidance differs from selective avoidance and means consuming news less than once a month.
- Studying consistent avoiders reveals deeper patterns that apply across broader audiences.
Social Networks Shape News Habits
- News lovers are embedded in social networks where news discussion reinforces habits and civic importance.
- News avoiders lack those social ties, so they rarely feel social cost for tuning out.
Low Efficacy Makes News Seem Futile
- Many avoiders feel low political efficacy and believe individual attention won't change outcomes.
- That belief plus news' emotional toll makes following news seem pointless to them.
