---
title: "2. COVID-19: Both a national and local news story"
description: "As evidenced in the mix of sources Americans rely on for news, the coronavirus outbreak is touching people’s lives both nationally and closer to home. A majority of U.S. adults (61%) say they are giving about equal attention to both national and state and local coronavirus news. About a quarter (23%) are paying closer attention […]"
date: "2020-04-29"
authors:
  - name: "Amy Mitchell"
    job_title: "Former Director, Journalism Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/amy-mitchell/"
  - name: "J. Baxter Oliphant"
    job_title: "Senior Researcher "
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/baxter-oliphant/"
  - name: "Elisa Shearer"
    job_title: "Senior Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/elisa-shearer/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/04/29/2-covid-19-both-a-national-and-local-news-story/"
categories:
  - "American News Pathways 2020 Project"
  - "COVID-19 & Politics"
  - "COVID-19 in the News"
  - "Misinformation"
  - "News Coverage"
  - "News Platforms & Sources"
---

# 2. COVID-19: Both a national and local news story

[![Most Americans pay equal attention to national and local COVID-19 news](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/04/Pathways_04.29.20.ch2-2.png?w=418)](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/04/29/2-covid-19-both-a-national-and-local-news-story/pathways_04-29-20-ch2-2-png/)

As evidenced in the mix of sources Americans rely on for news, the coronavirus outbreak is touching people’s lives both nationally and closer to home.

A majority of U.S. adults (61%) say they are giving about equal attention to both national and state and local coronavirus news. About a quarter (23%) are paying closer attention to state and local elements of the outbreak, while 15% are most engaged in national-level news.

Within the news coverage, many Americans are closely following a wide range of topics, again with both national and local orientations.

Among six national-level storylines asked about, roughly four-in-ten or more U.S. adults are very closely following the economic impact (46%), advice from national health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (40%), the health impact on people like them (40%) and the tally of cases and deaths (38%). About a third are following the actions and statements of the federal government very closely (34%) and the ability of hospitals across the country to treat patients (33%).

[![Americans are following a range of national coronavirus topics very closely](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/04/Pathways_04.29.20.ch2-1.png?w=620)](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/04/29/2-covid-19-both-a-national-and-local-news-story/pathways_04-29-20-ch2-1-png/)

[![Among local COVID-19 topics, government actions and the stocks at local stores are most closely followed](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/04/Pathways_04.29.20.ch2-0.png?w=622)](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/04/29/2-covid-19-both-a-national-and-local-news-story/pathways_04-29-20-ch2-0-png/)

Americans are following each of seven local and state coronavirus topics asked about quite closely as well, though at percentages a bit lower than for the national storylines.

The two local storylines followed very closely by the largest segments of U.S. adults are actions by state and local governments (42%) and the availability of food and other essentials in local stores (38%). About three-in-ten are very closely following the status of local schools (30%), businesses (29%) and hospitals (28%) and the availability of COVID-19 tests (29%). The availability of unemployment benefits and other aid is being very closely followed by a quarter of Americans.

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**Next:** [3. Majority of Americans feel they need breaks from COVID 19 news; many say it takes an emotional toll](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2020/04/29/3-majority-of-americans-feel-they-need-breaks-from-covid-19-news-many-say-it-takes-an-emotional-toll.md)