Pew Research Center Looks At Where Americans Get Their News

New Data

Radio ranks third, behind TV and Online -- but ahead of newspapers -- in a new PEW RESEARCH CENTER on the public’s news habits. 

PEW writes, "Social media, messaging apps, texts and email provide a constant stream of news from people we’re close to as well as total strangers. News stories can now come piecemeal, as links or shares, putting less emphasis on the publisher. And, hyper levels of immediacy and mobility can create an expectation that the news will come to us whether we look for it or not. How have these influences shaped Americans’ appetite for and attitudes toward the news? What, in other words, are the defining traits of the modern news consumer?"

In findings from a two-part study which asked U.S. adults a wide range of questions about their news habits and attitudes, PEW notes, "In 2016, Americans express a clear preference for getting their news on a screen -- though which screen that is varies. TV remains the dominant screen, followed by digital. Still, TV news use is dramatically lower among younger adults, suggesting further shake-ups to come.

The greatest portion of U.S. adults, 46%, prefer to watch news rather than read it (35%) or listen to it (17%), adds PEW. When paired with the platforms people prefer, the data reveal that as of now, the web has largely pulled in “readers” rather than “watchers.” While those who prefer watching news predominantly opt for TV and listeners turn to radio, most of those who prefer reading news now opt to get news online rather than in print (59%, compared with 26% of news readers who opt for print).

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