Papua New Guinea Citizen Media Engagement Study 2023

The study evaluates media coverage, inclusivity, and highlights issues related to vulnerable groups in society such as youth, people with disabilities (PWD), women, and rural residents. While the study found that issues specific to youth, women, and rural communities are being covered, it also revealed that there is room for improvement, particularly in the coverage of PWD.

Also, traditional media, including radio, newspapers, and television, remain the primary sources of information, followed by online media. Social media is increasingly becoming a source of information for young urban dwellers, particularly in the Southern region, and is expected to grow further in the future.

As media continues to evolve and adapt to the digital landscape, real-time access to information and news has proven beneficial, and citizens generally appreciate the transition. However, the shift to digital has also amplified existing issues such as the marginalization of rural peoples’ access to information, the high cost of media access, and the distraction caused by digital devices.

Internet users reported encountering misinformation and disinformation on online platforms, leading to a general decline in trust in online sources since 2019. Despite the prominence of traditional and social media, other trustworthy sources of information were identified. The church was rated the most trustworthy source of information among all demographics surveyed, reinforcing the role of religion in Papua New Guinean (PNG) communities today, with traditional media following as the next most trusted sources of information.

Link to full study here - PNG Citizen Media Engagement Study

The study provides new insights into how PNG’s citizens engage with its news and information media environment.

This study is a follow-up to the 2019 PNG Citizen Perceptions of Governance and Media Engagement Study and was commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation International Development (ABCID) under the Media Development Initiative (MDI). The MDI is part of the Building Community Engagement in Papua New Guinea (BCEP) program and funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).