Video news channels have become a critical part of the media landscape, helping to reach an audience that might not otherwise watch traditional TV or visit news websites. As a result, these channels have been prioritized in social media algorithms, boosting their visibility and generating higher engagement rates.
A large share of YouTube news channels are affiliated with a news organization, whether as the official channel of a major outlet or as a dedicated channel for a program or show from a news company. Among this group, about half post videos that are primarily news-oriented.
Independent YouTube news channels make up the second largest group of these news-oriented videos. These channels are hosted by individuals who have built a following through their content on YouTube and typically cover a wide range of topics. Among this group, about a third have a distinct focus, such as non-political public figures like Rob Ford or controversial events and issues, like the 2020 election or criticism of corporations or news organizations.
Overall, the analysis of these 377 news channels reveals that politics is the most prevalent topic. About a quarter of the videos from the most popular channels focused on President Trump and his impeachment, while another 31% centered on domestic policy issues such as gun control or abortion. These were followed by foreign policy (2%) and 2020 elections (2%). Videos focusing on conspiracy theories such as QAnon, however, were almost exclusively featured in channels that are not associated with any news organization.