Changing Roles of Traditional and Online Media as Trusted News Sources in Qatar and Their Relationships with Perceived Important Issues and Interest in Politics

Abstract

This paper analyzes changes in media consumption patterns for trusted news sources over a three-year period among Qatari Nationals and expatriate residents living in Qatar, using data from the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Omnibus Surveys of Life in Qatar, administered by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI). Results show that television remains the strong favorite for local news and international news for both Qatari Nationals and expatriate residents, but that reliance on television is declining, especially for international news. Consumption of daily newspapers as the preferred source of local news remained stable among Qataris, but declined among expatriates. Internet news sites as the preferred source for local news increased during the three-year period. Additional analyses suggest weak agenda-setting effects between trusted news sources and perceived most important issues, and positive correlations between use of Internet sites and interest in political news.