Pew Study Shows Reliance On Radio News Declining

Radio News Is Slipping

The latest PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS study of Americans' news consumption habits shows listening to radio news continuing its decline as a primary source of news. 

While 54% of Americans said they listened to radio news in 1991, the number stands at 34% today, tied with "Got News Online," which didn't exist in 1991 and has risen from 24% in its 2004 debut to 34% today. Radio's decline mirrored that of newspapers, down from 56% to 31% from 1991 to 2010, while television saw its number down from 68% in 1991 to 58% today. "Any Web or Mobile News" debuted this survey at 44%.

Overall time spent with news has risen from an average of 67 minutes a day in 2006-08 to 70 minutes in 2010, driven by those in the 40-49 and 50-64 age groups, up 8 and 6 points, respectively. Only the 18-29 age group showed a decline.

Regarding choice of news sources, ideology made a difference in the decision, with 80% of RUSH LIMBAUGH listeners or SEAN HANNITY viewers characterizing themselves as conservative while the NEW YORK TIMES, KEITH OLBERMANN, COMEDY CENTRAL's "THE DAILY SHOW" and "THE COLBERT REPORT," and RACHEL MADDOW have audiences with twice the proportion of liberals as the general public.

Read more about the study by clicking here.

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