War-Related Internet Usage
Analysis from comScore Media Metrix

Americans Turn to Online News in Droves
One of the first and most popular applications of the Internet, online news has become an even more essential resource for Americans looking to keep abreast of developments in Iraq.  In fact, major news sites posted an 82 percent increase in U.S. visitors on Monday, March 24 compared to an average of the four Mondays ending March 9 (prior to the Azores summit and ultimatum). 

With limited availability of TV and radio coverage during the workday, workplace Internet users often rely on the Internet as their primary source of up-to-date news.  Major news sites saw an average increase of 85 percent in at-Work visitors compared to an increase of only 13 percent for at-Home visitors.

Daily Unique Visitors to Major News Sites
Monday, March 24, 2003

% Change = Percentage Change Versus
an Average of the Four Mondays Ending March 9
Source: comScore Media Metrix
 

U.S. Workers Visit News Sites With Greater Frequency
Not only has the war had a major impact on the number of people visiting news sites, but it has also affected the intensity with which they visit them.  With a record number of correspondents covering the war in Iraq, the world’s major news organizations are able to quickly update their Web sites with the latest news and graphics from the front.  Americans – again, particularly those at work – are clearly utilizing this near-constant flow of information.  In fact, as ground forces pushed into Iraq on Friday, March 21^st, Americans visited the 10 major news organizations sampled below an average of 21 percent more often from workplace PCs.  The average at-work visitor to USAToday.com visited the site three times or more on Friday, 42 percent more often than normal.

Visits Per Visitor to Major Online News Sites
Friday, March 21, 2002
U.S. Work Audience
Source: comScore Media Metrix

International Perspective
One of the Internet’s key benefits as an information source is its unique ability to quickly provide global perspectives.  Web logs, or “blogs,” are online journals that are quickly gaining popularity as a medium to express personal views.  Dear_raed.blogspot.com, thought by many to be the only Web log or “blog” operating in Baghdad, drew more than 46,000 visitors last Monday.  This site, which was virtually unheard of only one week ago, has since received national news coverage and global exposure. 

The Internet also provides a global audience for more mainstream voices.  Last week, for example, nearly 40 percent of the daily visitors to Whitehouse.gov came from outside the U.S.  In fact, more than one of every four visitors to the five government sites sampled below resided outside the United States.  This represents an important opportunity for the government to influence more positive perception worldwide.