Americans commonly say skepticism is part of being a ‘good news consumer’
When asked what it means to be a “good news consumer,” % of U.S. adults who mentioned …
Note: We coded people’s open-ended responses into up to three categories each. The 32% of people who didn’t answer are not shown.
Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE
Americans commonly say skepticism is part of being a ‘good news consumer’
When asked what it means to be a “good news consumer,” % of U.S. adults who mentioned …
| Attribute | Percent |
|---|---|
| Being discerning or skeptical | 20% |
| Following the news or staying informed | 17% |
| Getting news from quality sources | 13% |
| Researching or fact-checking the news | 12% |
| Getting news from a variety of sources | 10% |
| Getting news from a variety of perspectives | 7% |
| Not sharing inaccurate information | 4% |
| Using the news to make decisions | 3% |
| Other | 10% |
Note: We coded people’s open-ended responses into up to three categories each. The 32% of people who didn’t answer are not shown.
Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE
