The latest release of total news readership shows a 0.2% decline when compared to the same period last year.
However, 20.6 million Australians - 96% of the population - continue to consume news in a four-week period.
The shift in readership figures is due to post-Covid demographic shifts and behavioural implications. At the same time, an update was made to Australian population data.
Readership is down across print (-0.7%) and digital (-5.8%) although print decline has slowed compared to previous reporting periods.
The readership figures, produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands, refers to the 12 months to March 2023 and represent news brands across print and digital as well as standalone news websites.
Demographically, total news continues to engage audiences of all profiles at scale, including the high-income group, as well as the hard to reach under 40s.
While general, breaking news dominates news consumption with 95% of Australians reading general news, there is a high level of cross-pollination to special interest categories with 70% of general news readers reading three or more categories including property, sport and lifestyle.
Vanessa Lyons, ThinkNewsBrands EGM, said this readership data reaffirms that news provides a powerhouse of audience engagement and consumer readiness.
"The figures show that Total News not only delivers guaranteed scale, but also a primed audience ready to buy with 41% of news consumers considered heavy users of the channel," said Lyons.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.