What Is News?
As people are exposed to more information from more sources than ever before, how they define and feel about “news” has become less clear-cut.
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As people are exposed to more information from more sources than ever before, how they define and feel about “news” has become less clear-cut.
53% of Republicans have at least some trust in information from national news outlets in 2025, up from 40% in 2024.
We took a closer look at how Americans’ views and experiences have evolved on a variety of topics over the last 20 years.
More Americans now prefer to get local news online, while fewer turn to TV or print. And most say local news outlets are important to their community.
The Pew-Knight Initiative will deliver a comprehensive, real-time look at the information landscape from the standpoints of both consumers and producers of news.
76% of Black adults say they at least sometimes get news on TV, compared with 62% of both White and Hispanic adults and 52% of Asian adults.
55% of journalists surveyed say that every side does not always deserve equal coverage in the news. 22% of Americans overall say the same.
A survey of U.S.-based journalists finds 77% would choose their career all over again, though 57% are highly concerned about future restrictions on press freedom.
The declining public trust in the news media and polarization of news audiences have profound effects on civic life.
In just five years, the percentage of Republicans with at least some trust in national news organizations has been cut in half.
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