U.S. digital news outlets continued to lose ground in June, with traffic falling year-over-year at 90% of the nation’s top 50 news websites, according to new audience data.
Similarweb figures analyzed by Press Gazette show that only five of the 50 largest news brands posted any growth compared with June of the previous year — a sharp drop from 20% of sites showing gains in May.
Among the hardest-hit were Newsweek and the Daily Mail, which saw some of the steepest declines. The data underscores persistent challenges for digital-first and legacy news organizations trying to maintain audiences in a fragmented media environment. Factors include shifting platform algorithms, competition from social media and video platforms, declining referral traffic, and broader economic pressures on advertising revenue.
Industry analysts say the figures reflect a longer-term trend: even as overall news consumption remains high, traditional websites are struggling to convert attention into sustainable digital traffic and monetization.
The steep drop in growth sites from May to June signals accelerating headwinds for an industry already grappling with layoffs, consolidation, and uncertainty over how audiences discover and engage with news.