University of Florida study: Most millennials get their news online

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Diane H. McFarlin, former publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, shown above, who was named the sixth dean of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, in June 2012, reflects on a new millennial study on a study showing the vast majority of those identified as millennials -- ages 18-24 -- get their news online from new media sources. Among the most popular new media websites in the Sunshine State is Daytona Beach-based HeadlineSurfer.com, the award-winning 24/7 internet newspaper serving the Daytona Beach-Orlando metro area and first launched in April 2008, as NSBNews.net in New Smyrna Beach
 
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Millennials get most of their news from online sources, but don’t feel all that well-informed.

That's the latest from a study conducted by Elite Daily with help from a research group at the University of Florida.

But a small number of young adults who rely mostly on print media say they get enough info to feel they are informed about the daily news cycle, the study showed.

“Even though the overwhelming majority of young adults are turning to digital sources for news, there is still a perception by some that they are better informed through traditional media,” Diane McFarlin, dean of the UF College of Journalism and Communications, said in a press release on the study.

Of course, McFarlin was the publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune before becoming the dean of the journalism and communications department at the University of Central Florida back in June 2012.

Diane McFarlin, former publisher Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Headline Surfer®Diane McFarlin, dean of the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Commuications and former publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, said millennials prefer new media toutlets like internet news site and blogs and Facebook and Twitter feeds to traditional print newspapers as their source of news.

“Even though the overwhelming majority of young adults are turning to digital sources for news, there is still a perception by some that they are better informed through traditional media,” McFarlin said.

The Elite Daily Survey involved 1,600 respondents ages 16 to 35. The study, however, focused on those ranging in age of 18-24.

Among the study's findings:

• Eight in 10 young adults got their news from online-only sources such as internet news websites and blogs, Twitter and Facebook feeds;

• Only 3 percent said their primary source of news was print newspapers;

• 4.5 percent said their source of news was TV broadcast news, while 2.3 percent preferred 24-hour all-news cable channels.