For Russians Internet is second popular news source after television. However, Russians prefer television, radio or printed version of newspapers rather than online versions, if they have choice.
MOSCOW, August 13, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the most popular and the most trusted sources of information.
Internet is the second popular source of information for Russians followed after television. Twenty-three percent of Russians get information from Internet, and 60% - from television. Other sources of information are less popular, such as newspapers – 7% (in 1991 the share was 31%, second place). Radio is chosen by 5% of Russians. Conversations with friends are least poplar source of news compared with mass media (4%).
Those who choose television as a source of news are mainly rural area residents (67%), respondents aged over 45 (72-76%), and Russians with elementary level of education (74%). Those who prefer Internet are Muscovites and St. Petersburgians (35%), 18-24-year-old Russians (50%), and Russians with high level of education (32%).
Forty-eight percent of Russians who actively use the Internet get information there; television is ranked second (40%).
In terms of trust Russians rank Internet second (22%) after television (60%). Printed media is least trusted source of information (7%); in 1991 this source was ranked second (19%). Four percent of Russians trust radio.
Internet remains to be the most trusted source of information among those who use it actively (44%). At the same time, who use the Internet every day equally trust television as a news source (45%).
Online versions of TV, printed press or radio are less popular than television and radio, printed versions of newspapers and magazines. Seventy-six percent of Russians prefer watching thir favorite TV program on TV versus 21% of those who choose the online version. The same thing can be said about newspapers: printed versions – 58%, e-version – 29%; and about TV programs (55% watch them on TV; 28% prefer online versions).
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on July 27-28, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
What is the main news source for you? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 1991 | 2013 |
Television | 46 | 60 |
Internet* | - | 23 |
Magazines, newspapers | 31 | 7 |
Radio | 13 | 5 |
Conversations with people | 6 | 4 |
None of the above-mentioned | 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 1 |
*In 1991 the answer “Internet” was not provided
What is the main news source for you? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those using Internet almost every day | Those using Internet several times per week/per month | Those using Internet from time to time or never |
Newspapers | 7 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
Radio | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Television | 60 | 40 | 70 | 76 |
Magazines | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Internet | 23 | 48 | 11 | 1 |
Conversations with people | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
None of the above-mentioned | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
What is the main news source for you? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | 60 and more |
Newspapers | 7 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Radio | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Television | 60 | 34 | 50 | 53 | 72 | 76 |
Magazines | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Internet | 23 | 50 | 37 | 29 | 11 | 2 |
Conversations with people | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
None of the above-mentioned | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
If there are different opinions on the same event presented on different media (Internet/radio/TV/newspapers), which source of information will you trust first? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 1991 | 2013 |
Television | 35 | 60 |
Internet* | - | 22 |
Magazines, newspapers | 19 | 7 |
Radio | 11 | 4 |
Hard to tell | 35 | 7 |
* In 1991 the answer “Internet” was not provided
Next week an interesting program/article will be issued. What will you choose? | ||
А. | Watch the TV program at an appointed time on TV | 76 |
Watch the TV program live or replay online | 21 | |
Hard to tell | 3 | |
B. | Read the article in the printed version of newspaper/magazine | 58 |
Read the e-version of newspaper/magazine | 29 | |
Hard to tell | 13 | |
C. | Listen to the radio | 55 |
Listen or replay in the Internet | 28 | |
Hard to tell | 17 | |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!