A taxonomy for business news audiences in MENA: a step in reducing information asymmetries

Abstract

This study looks at how a possible categorization or taxonomy of the audiences that consume business and financial news could be a first step to setting policies and approaches to reduce information asymmetries in a region characterized by deep inequalities. This study looks at how changes in the way people access and use news, which now is predominantly via social media, opens the opportunity to address some of these gaps. The study is based on eight focus groups that took place in Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, and Lebanon using Zoom. The overall data suggests that MENA audiences have shifted to social media as the main source from where they get their news, and this is significantly important for the future of the mainstream media, particularly in relation to our news beat. It also confirms that there is now an opportunity to categorize MENA business and financial news consumers, although it would be one that is extremely skewed in two tiers.