Evaluating the potential and limits of trace-based interviews when studying news use

Digital trace data have expanded possibilities for studying news use but often obscure how people make sense of their encounters with journalism. This paper examines trace-based interviewing as a methodological approach for contextualising such data and understanding their limits. Drawing on 73 qualitative trace-based interviews conducted in the United Kingdom and Brazil, the study shows how using participants’ own digital traces prompts reflection on habitual, incidental, and cross-platform news use. Trace-based interviews help uncover overlooked practices and situate logged behaviours within everyday routines, while also revealing practical and interpretive challenges in using trace data. The paper highlights how integrating behavioural and qualitative perspectives can enrich research on news use and encourage more reflective, user-centred approaches to digital methods.