Information managers and sources of news: an international survey

For its seventh annual News Survey, FreePint gathered responses from more than 340 information managers (56% of the respondents were based in the US; 34% Europe; 7% in Asia Pacific; 3% in Africa). 

Key findings

• Information managers are under constant pressure to reduce or maintain costs while helping users access low-risk, quality news content. 
• Although information managers recognise the value of premium news sources, they also report that end users are increasingly relying on free news sources. 
• The increase in the use of free sources does concern information managers from both a copyright and an organisational reputation standpoint. 61% of respondents said that their organisations have no policies in place when it comes to using content found on the web
• Although the use of free sources is on the rise, fewer than half of the respondents think that free news will meet most of their organisation’s needs
• User demand for mobile access to news is ramping up
• Advanced search functionality is the feature of premium news products most valued by Information Managers
• Other features most valued include
  • the right to redistribute or re-use content within the organisation
  • inclusion of specific sources relevant to the organisation
• Oddly, video and audio content rank lowest of the features valued in premium sources
• Organisations are moving away from one stop shop solutions and looking to specialist sources to meet specific needs
• Full text sources are important to premium news customers
• Information managers also consistently prioritise quality customer service, effective training and useful communications in their suppliers of news content.

Sector coverage of those surveyed

• 25% of the respondents represent legal firms
• 16% represent financial industries
• 6% biotech and pharmaceuticals
• 11% management consultants
• 9% manufacturing
• 5% charities
• 3% government agencies

More information available from FreePint.