TACLOBAN CITY– The digital revolution is irreversibly changing how Eastern Visayas population, aged 10-64 years, consume media that redefines the landscape for mass media in the region.
In the recent Data Dissemination Forum on Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) by the Philippine Statistics Authority in Region 8, media platforms such as printed newspapers and traditional radio are witnessing a marked decline in audience exposure.
In 2024, the exposure rate of printed newspapers as a reading platform was at 19.5 percent, while radio as an audio/visual platform was at 37.8 percent. Both the printed newspaper and radio saw a significant decline at 28.9 percent for printed newspaper and 43.3 for radio, with data comparison from the 2019 FLEMMS.
The decline in exposure to printed newspapers and traditional radio reflects a broader transformation in media consumption. While not entirely obsolete, these formats must adapt by embracing digital-first strategies, interactive storytelling, and multi-platform distribution to remain relevant, according to Regional Head Reyan Arinto of the Philippine Information Agency 8.
“There remain areas in Eastern Visayas which have yet access to digital platforms, radio is still their primary source for news and information. They should still be catered to,” Arinto said.
Meanwhile, the general population in Eastern Visayas mostly uses the internet for social media at 75.4 percent, with others using it for work or research coming a little far behind at 46.3 percent.
In the Philippines, known as the “social media capital of the world,” Filipinos spend an average of over 3 hours per day on social platforms—far above the global average. From barangay updates on Facebook to viral dances on TikTok, social media has become the public square for entertainment and discussion.
With 81.1 percent in the region owning a cellular phone and with 37.2 percent subscribed to mobile broadband and 24.2 percent combinedly powered by broadband internet and satellite internet, audiences are shifting toward digital platforms including news apps, podcasts, and YouTube consuming news in bite-sized formats, often through smartphones.
The younger demographics prefer on-demand content over scheduled broadcasts or lengthy articles and feature stories, which require time and attention, are being replaced by snippets, summaries, and visuals.
The platforms may be shifting but the demand for truth, accountability, and compelling storytelling is as strong as ever.
(ACR, PIA Leyte)
