2024 reader survey results: we asked, you answered

I can’t recall any journalist ever being accused of lacking a sense of self-importance, and I am as guilty as anyone. Here at The Conversation, we love to talk about how our work is vital for democracy, and how providing quality information can help people make better decisions and improve lives.

It’s all true, but Shakespeare was onto something when he raised suspicion about people who protest too much. The reason journalists like me spend so much time talking about why our work matters is that people seem increasingly willing to live without it.

According to the latest Reuters Digital News Report, more and more young people are avoiding news and getting their information almost exclusively from social media. Reporters have been elbowed out by influencers, and non-partisan broadcasters have been replaced by YouTubers and podcasters like Joe Rogan. People still feel engaged, informed and entertained, but their sources of information are changing.

The problem is that we now hear from fewer reporters and bona fide experts, and that means more misinformation and disinformation. Add in hyper-partisanship and the difficulty of having a meaningful public debate when everyone has their own set of facts, and you’ve got a slowly evolving crisis.

The Conversation’s unique approach of teaming journalists and academics to share research and help make sense of the news is clearly a valuable antidote, but it can be hard to know whether the message is getting through.

That’s why this year’s annual reader survey has been a shot in the arm. More than 3,700 of you took the time to tell us what you think about The Conversation. And the key finding? You get it.

Here are a few of the responses that put a spring in my step. Among the top reasons you read The Conversation is to “get expert analysis of current events”, “read new ideas and perspectives”, and “get reliable facts without bias”.

An impressive 84% of you said you trust The Conversation to present information accurately and without a political slant. Around 80% of you said you were first made aware of issues by reading about them in The Conversation.

Being a thoughtful bunch, you also gave us lots of constructive criticism, which we will follow up on. But for the most part, your responses were upbeat, and I want to leave you with the words of one kind reader who perfectly summed up what we do:

“I think The Conversation is a great source of thoughtful analysis that we don’t necessarily get from the breakneck-paced newsrooms elsewhere. It is a reputable source of information from academics whose affiliations either are super clear or can be easily discovered. I think it’s a great publication.”

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond, and thanks for reading The Conversation and sharing quality information with your friends. I hope it’s not too self-important to say that it matters, and that together we can make a difference.