Top 50 English-Language News Sites in the World: Substack Leads YoY Growth for Seventh Month as Most Down in January

Subtitle: As traditional news platforms face declining traffic, independent publishing and newsletter-driven journalism are reshaping the global media landscape.

The global digital news landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. According to the latest traffic analysis of the top 50 English-language news websites in the world, most platforms experienced declines in visits in January, while Substack stood out as a powerful exception. The newsletter-driven publishing platform recorded the highest year-over-year growth for the seventh consecutive month, signaling a significant shift in how audiences consume news and information.

This development highlights an important turning point in the evolution of journalism. While traditional news websites continue to struggle with declining engagement, newer digital platforms built around independent creators, personalization, and direct audience relationships are rapidly gaining momentum.

Widespread Declines Across Major News Websites

The January rankings revealed a concerning trend for established news organizations. Out of the top 50 English-language news websites globally, only seven experienced year-over-year traffic growth, while 43 sites saw declines in visits compared to the same period the previous year.

Some of the steepest declines affected prominent news brands. Indian news platforms India.com and Hindustan Times recorded dramatic drops of 72% and 63% respectively. Forbes also experienced a significant decline of 48%, reflecting broader challenges facing traditional media outlets.

These declines reflect a growing shift in audience behavior. Readers are no longer relying exclusively on major media websites. Instead, they are consuming news through alternative channels such as social media platforms, newsletters, mobile apps, and independent journalism platforms.

This fragmentation of audience attention has made it increasingly difficult for traditional news organizations to maintain consistent traffic levels.

Substack Emerges as a Major Digital News Force

In contrast to the widespread declines across the industry, Substack has demonstrated remarkable growth. The platform recorded a 44% increase in visits year over year, reaching approximately 166.9 million visits in January alone.

This marks the seventh consecutive month that Substack has led growth among the world’s top 50 English-language news sites.

Substack’s success reflects a broader shift toward creator-driven journalism. Unlike traditional news websites that rely on editorial hierarchies and advertising revenue, Substack allows individual writers to publish newsletters directly to subscribers. This model creates a more personal relationship between journalists and readers.

Readers are increasingly drawn to content that feels authentic, specialized, and independent. Instead of consuming generalized news from large institutions, many audiences prefer to follow individual journalists who focus on specific topics or perspectives.

Substack’s growth demonstrates how independent publishing is reshaping the news ecosystem.

Digital Media Consumption Is Rapidly Evolving

The growth of Substack and similar platforms reflects deeper changes in digital media consumption habits. Audiences now expect more personalized and convenient access to information. Newsletters delivered directly to inboxes provide readers with curated content that fits their interests and schedules.

Traditional news websites, by contrast, often rely heavily on search engines and social media platforms to generate traffic. Changes in search algorithms, shifting social media priorities, and increased competition have reduced their ability to attract large audiences consistently.

Research shows that web traffic is increasingly concentrated among fewer dominant platforms, while audiences distribute their attention across multiple channels and formats.

This shift has created both challenges and opportunities for news organizations.

Some News Organizations Still Show Strong Performance

Despite the overall decline in traffic, several major news organizations experienced positive growth. Al Jazeera recorded a 39% year-over-year increase in visits, while The Hill saw traffic rise by 38%.

Additionally, many news websites experienced month-to-month increases in traffic during January. Thirty-six of the top 50 sites saw month-over-month growth compared to December, suggesting that audience engagement can fluctuate based on news cycles and global events.

For example, AP News and NBC News both recorded substantial monthly increases in traffic, highlighting how breaking news and major global developments can temporarily boost readership.

These fluctuations illustrate the unpredictable nature of digital news consumption.

The Rise of Direct-to-Reader Journalism

One of the most important lessons from Substack’s growth is the increasing importance of direct relationships between journalists and readers.

Traditional media business models rely heavily on advertising revenue, which depends on attracting large volumes of traffic. However, Substack’s subscription-based model allows writers to earn income directly from readers.

This model reduces reliance on advertising and provides greater financial stability for journalists. It also allows writers to focus on niche topics and specialized audiences.

The success of this model reflects growing reader demand for trustworthy, expert-driven content.

Traditional Media Faces Increasing Competition

The decline in traffic across many major news websites highlights the challenges facing traditional journalism in the digital age.

Competition for audience attention has intensified dramatically. Readers now have access to information from a wide range of sources, including social media influencers, independent journalists, podcasts, and video platforms.

This increased competition has fragmented the news audience and reduced the dominance of traditional media institutions.

Even the world’s most visited news websites, such as The New York Times and BBC News, must continuously adapt to changing audience expectations and technological trends.

The Future of Digital Journalism

The latest rankings of the top 50 English-language news websites provide valuable insight into the future of journalism. The growth of Substack and similar platforms suggests that independent journalism and personalized content will play an increasingly important role.

At the same time, traditional news organizations must adapt by embracing digital innovation, diversifying revenue sources, and strengthening relationships with their audiences.

The digital news industry is not disappearing—it is evolving.

As readers continue to seek trustworthy, relevant, and engaging content, platforms that prioritize authenticity, accessibility, and reader connection will be best positioned for long-term success.

Substack’s continued growth demonstrates that the future of journalism may belong not only to large media institutions, but also to individual voices empowered by technology.