Data and trends about key sectors in the U.S. news media industry
From 2004 to 2023, Pew Research Center issued reports on the State of the News Media, measuring key audience and economic indicators for various sectors within the U.S. news industry. These reports focused on news outlets’ audiences and traffic, exploring how their business models were shifting to adapt to new technologies and how Americans’ news consumption habits were changing.
Over the years, the Center’s approach to studying these topics evolved along with the industry. For a variety of reasons, we decided 2023 would be the last year we published a State of the News Media update. Some sources of industry data have changed, making it more difficult to track trends over time. And more broadly, as Americans get news from a wide range of sources beyond just the traditional news media, we have shifted more toward studying the experiences and habits of news consumers rather than the industry itself.
You can find the 2004-18 State of the News Media reports as PDFs here: 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004
You can find the State of the News Media methodology here. In addition, Pew Research Center continues to closely track Americans’ news consumption habits as the industry continues to evolve:
- News Media Tracker
- News Platform Fact Sheet
- Social Media and News Fact Sheet
- Podcasts and News Fact Sheet
- News Habits and Media research
Follow the links below to the fact sheets with 2019-23 data.
Digital News Fact Sheet
In the U.S., roughly nine-in-ten adults (93%) get at least some news online (either via mobile or desktop), and the online space has become a host for the digital homes of both legacy news outlets and new, “born on the web” news outlets.
Hispanic and Black News Media Fact Sheet
News media made by and for Black and Hispanic Americans – the two largest racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. – have been a consistent part of the country’s news landscape. Explore statistics on the Hispanic- and Black-oriented news industry.
Cable News Fact Sheet
In 2022, both prime-time and daytime cable news audiences increased for Fox News but decreased for CNN, MSNBC and Newsmax.
Network News Fact Sheet
Financially, advertiser expenditures for the news programs of the three major networks have declined substantially since 2020.
Local TV News Fact Sheet
Local TV companies generated more revenue in 2022 than in 2021, consistent with a cyclical pattern in which advertising revenue rises in election years and falls in non-election years.
Newspapers Fact Sheet
Newspapers are a critical part of the American news landscape, but they have been hard hit as more and more Americans consume news digitally.
Audio and Podcasting Fact Sheet
The audio news sector in the U.S. is split by modes of delivery: traditional terrestrial (AM/FM) radio and digital formats such as online radio and podcasting.
Public Broadcasting Fact Sheet
Hundreds of local and regional radio and television stations comprise the U.S. public media system.
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