Young Adults, Driven by Gen Z’s News Consumption Patterns: A Conceptual Framework of News Engagement
Abstract
The rapid evolution of digital technologies has redefined the relationship between audiences and news media. This interpretative paper aims to propose a framework for news organizations to better engage Generation Z, led by young adults, in today’s media environment. Drawing upon Uses and Gratifications (U&G) Theory and Participatory Culture Theory, this study integrates classical and contemporary perspectives to construct the U&G–Participation Integrated Framework, explaining how needs, uses, participatory practices, and gratifications form a continuous cycle of engagement. By using a conceptual and interpretive method, the paper synthesizes published work from google scholar data base (2006–2025) to 5 most important changes: (1) news consumption evolving into meaning negotiation, (2) news reworking into co-creation, (3) News credibility turning into participatory and relational, (4) Technology including generative AI, social media , etc. serving as mediator or moderator and supply of gratification and (5) participation functioning as a continuous intention. The findings make U&G theory and participatory culture theory into one conceptual framework, highlighting that generation Z’s engagement is through different needs, uses, gratification, cultural practices, and digital affordances. This conceptual integration affords both theoretical refinement for target audience research and guidance for media agencies to enhance engagement in participatory journalism.
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