The digital shift in news media’s revenue streams during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This chapter sheds light on the economic resilience of Norwegian news media during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the shifts in revenues within the newspaper industry amidst the crisis. The business disruptions caused by the pandemic inevitably impacted the revenue streams of news media organisations. By analysing revenue data from the Norwegian Media Authority and officially published reports, combined with expert interviews, our study unveils the diverse impact the pandemic had on news media in Norway. The findings reveal that while some outlets encountered cash-flow problems, others successfully navigated digital markets, leveraging the accelerated digital shift in media consumption and advertising during this period. Additionally, the study highlights that only a fraction of the extra funds granted by the state to assist the news business through the crisis was utilised.