Uses and Gratifications of Online News among Young Adults in Bahrain

• Main Author: Hatem Alsridi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Institute for Education and Research 2018-01-01
• Series: Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications
• Subjects: bahrain; online news; news consumption; uses and gratifications; young adults
• Online Access: https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2018-4-1-4-Alsridi.pdf

This study examines the use of local and Arab news websites among young adults in Bahrain. It identifies the patterns of use, the reasons of choices, and the factors that influence these choices and highlights the potential difficulties, if any, preventing users from finding gratifications in their news practices. A survey was administered to a random sample of 522 Bahraini young adults aged 18 to 29 years to achieve the objectives of the study. The study found that online news consumption by young adults in Bahrain is on the increase, is accessed in particular by the mobile phone at all times and in all places, however, only a short time is allocated for this use, and is focused more on local news. The study also showed that young Bahrainis have become active users, relying on multiple patterns of use, and that their activity is not confined to reading the news but have a feeling of belonging to a community of users (Breton & Proulx, 2002). They also engage in parallel interactive activities that support their position through employing Internet technology from the perspective of uses and gratifications theory (Ruggiero, 2000).