Generation Y’s media preferences

Earlier this month, we surveyed 80 first-year Communications students (aged 17-19) at Charles Sturt University on ten questions relating to their media preferences. The results were published in random graphics across the three editions of  Panpaper08. Given the interest some of these graphics gave rise to, here they are again – in full (figures in bold represent percentages of the group of 80):

1.. Who would you most like to read about:

a. Kevin Rudd 13

b. Sonny Bill williams 19

c. Lindsay Lohan 40

d. Barak Obama 25

e. Prince Charles 3

 

2. What is your major source of news:

a. newspaper 15

b. mobile phone news alert 0

c. radio 10

d. television 46

e. internet news site 29

 

3. What do you like most about newspapers:

a. reliability 24

b. range of stories 16

c. in-depth coverage 17

d. easier to read 29

e. you can keep them (for future reference) 14

 

4. What do you like least about newspapers:

a. the cost 8

b. boring stories 16

c. articles are too long 11

d. they’re too big to carry around 55

c. environmental impact of producing them 10

 

5. I most like stories about:

a. celebrities. 34

b. politicians 12

c. sports people 29

d. economics 1

e. war 24

 

6. I least like stories about:

a. celebrities. 0 

b. politicians 32

c. sports people 23 

d. economics 44

e. war 1

 

7. The section I read most is:

a. sport 29

b. entertainment and arts 69

c. letter/opinion page 2

d. movie guide 0

e. classified ads 0

 

8. The section I read least is:

a. sport 28

b. entertainment and arts 0

c. letter/opinion page 30

d. movie guide 7

e. classified ads 35

 

9. I think newspapers are published mainly for:

a. readers in the 60s+ 10

b. readers in their 50s 10

c. readers in the 40s 42

d. readers in their 30s 38

e. readers in their 20s 0

 

10. If I were a newspaper editor the first thing I’d introduce is:

a. a magazine-style layout 25

b. more pictures 10

c. more comment from readers 0

d. shorter stories 25

e. a wider mix of stories 40