Tablet Versus Paper Newspapers: Different Reading Styles? Different Learning?

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Mass Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Digital replicas of printed newspapers on tablets (‘E-editions’ or ‘digital editions’) have become increasingly popular. This paper investigates reading styles and recall of the news from reading ‘E-editions’ and compares them with the printed version. The study aims to theoretically understand the effects of the medium interface (tablet versus paper) on reading style and learning and to provide insight for publishers who are faced with declining circulation and advertising income.
The study (N=90) showed that reading styles in digital editions are comparable to paper versions. Unlike other digital newspaper devices, such as news websites, tablet newspapers were not read in a more fragmented, selective or elaborate manner than their printed counterparts. On average, readers learned less from the E-edition than from the printed version, but the differences were small. The study also showed that ‘digital innovators’ learned more from the tablet newspaper than from the printed newspaper.

Authors

• Peter Neijens, U of Amsterdam

• Hilde Voorveld, U of Amsterdam - ASCoR