Youth audiences are abandoning traditional news sources, threatening the future of "old" media businesses, according to a new Carnegie Corporation research report, writes NetImperative. The study reveals that less than a fifth of 18-34 year-olds rank newspapers as their primary source of news, while 44 percent check out internet portals such as Google and Yahoo for updated information.

The report outlines the "seemingly irrevocable move" by young people away from traditional news sources toward the internet, blogs, handheld devices or instant messaging. As technology and globalisation create a challenge to the news industry, maintaining quality journalism is increasingly important, according to Vartan Gregorian, president of the Corporation.

Carnegie, a grant-making foundation to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding, is unveiling a journalism initiative this spring.