NEW YORK (AP) — The presidential election, pandemic and racial reckoning were stories that drove intense interest and engagement to news outlets in 2020. To a large degree, 2021 represented the inevitable hangover.
Summary
- (AP Photo)NEW YORK (AP) — The presidential election, pandemic and racial reckoning were stories that drove intense interest and engagement to news outlets in 2020.
- The Trump era saw explosive subscriber growth for some digital news sites like The New York Times and Washington Post.
- Although usage of the Times’ digital site is down, the company passed 8 million subscriptions and is on pace to grow further.
- Local news outlets saw a boost in digital subscriptions as people sought information in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- While interest in pandemic news has waned, Abernathy said she believes the outlets have done well in keeping many of those new subscribers.