Over the past decade, the number of registered media outlets in Kazakhstan has grown from 2,900 to more than 5,400. At the same time, nearly 40% of citizens get their news from social networks and messaging apps. This was stated by First Vice Minister of Culture and Information Qanat Isqakov at a panel session of Astana Media Week, according to infohub.kz.
According to Isqakov, ten years ago 73% of the population used the internet, while television remained the main source of news. Today, the share of citizens with internet access has reached 93.4%.
Information consumption habits have also changed. Currently, 39.1% of Kazakhstanis get their news from social networks and messaging apps. This is more than the share of those who consider news websites and television their main source.
The vice minister noted that Telegram channels have become full-fledged media, and bloggers and influencers have begun competing with traditional newsrooms. In some areas, they even set the agenda and influence public opinion.
"In just ten years, we have moved from a traditional media system to a multi-channel digital environment. Today, newsrooms, bloggers and digital platforms compete for audience attention," said Qanat Isqakov.
According to Isqakov, a new stage of change has begun in the market, driven by the development of artificial intelligence. Readers are increasingly turning to chatbots to find news, get a brief overview of events or an explanation of them.
"International practice confirms this too: over the past year alone, the share of people worldwide who get news weekly through AI chatbots has grown from 7 to 10 percent," the speaker explained.
On the sidelines of the forum, the vice minister added that the very structure of media consumption is changing. Whereas television, online resources and newspapers used to be separate, now everything is moving to a single digital platform. TV channels are developing streaming services, while online resources are entering streaming and broadcasting in the format of stories and interviews.
"If changes used to take years or decades, now they happen every day," Isqakov noted.
The first media week in Astana was held in 2017. Since then, the forum has been held ten times.
Earlier, Isqakov drew attention to the need for content labeling. According to him, it is important to inform viewers, readers and users that artificial intelligence was used in creating the material.