News content global study

Objectives

• Understand how technology is affecting the news industry
• Explore how tech companies can support high-quality news content
• Gather views on digital tools, partnerships, and training programmes
• Build an international picture of how news organisations and related stakeholders view sustainability in the sector

Methodology

This study used a mixed-method data collection approach combining desk research, digital recruitment, phone recruitment, and online interviewing. RONIN built contact lists using sources including D&B/Hoovers, Crunchbase, and local market directories, then screened and verified respondents before interview.

The study included participants from a wide range of organisation types, including news outlets, broadcasters, magazines, news agencies, industry associations, academic institutions, NGOs, and news-focused technology companies. Respondents came from both editorial and business functions, and all had input into decisions about digital tools, programmes, or services used by their organisation.

Challenge

The study required engagement with a fragmented and highly varied international audience spanning different organisation types, content specialisms, and job functions. Ensuring the right mix of editorial and commercial respondents, while maintaining consistency across multiple global markets, required careful targeting and respondent verification.

How RONIN approached it

RONIN combined desk-based list building with targeted digital and phone recruitment to identify relevant participants by outlet type, company, region, and job title. Screening ensured that respondents had input into decisions on digital products, tools, programmes, or services, helping build a dataset that was both relevant and comparable across markets.

Results

The study provided the client with an international view of how news organisations and related stakeholders assess technology’s role in the industry. It created a structured evidence base on attitudes towards digital support, partnership models, and the types of initiatives seen as most valuable for supporting high-quality news and more sustainable business strategies.