Americans say keeping up with key news topics is crucial. But fewer say they’re highly informed themselves
Democrats and Republicans broadly show similar patterns in how they evaluate the importance of staying informed about various topics.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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What types of news do Americans seek out or happen to come across?
About half of U.S. adults (49%) say they mostly get news because they happen to come across it, up from 39% in 2019.
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Local News Fact Sheet
Americans’ attention to local news has declined since 2016. Explore how people get local news today, shifting from TV and print to digital sources.
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Religious Radio Across America
Almost all U.S. adults live in range of a religious radio station, most commonly Christian radio. Stations tend to broadcast either mostly music or mostly talk.
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Where do Americans turn first for information about breaking news?
When a breaking news event happens, 36% of U.S. adults say they typically turn first to their preferred news organization to get more information.
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Email Newsletters as a Source of News
Three-in-ten U.S. adults say they at least sometimes get news from newsletters, but many don’t read most of the newsletters they get.
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Majority of Americans express low confidence in journalists to act in public’s best interests
57% of U.S. adults say they have not too much (40%) or no confidence (17%) in journalists to act in the best interests of the public.
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Video: How do young adults get their news?
Young adults under 30 are getting more news on social media, shaping how information spreads and giving us a possible glimpse into the future of news.
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Young Adults and the Future of News
U.S. adults under 30 follow news less closely than any other age group. And they’re more likely to get (and trust) news from social media.
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When Americans say they get news from TV, what do they mean?
Among TV news consumers, 57% say that their news mostly comes from cable, satellite or broadcast television. 34% say it mostly comes from streaming services.
