Who pays for local news in the U.S.?
While few Americans pay for local news, some people are more likely to do so than others – and most believe their local news outlets are doing well financially.
Older Americans, Black Adults and Americans With Less Education More Interested in Local News
Older Americans, black adults and those with a high school education or less show considerably more interest in local news than their counterparts.
It’s more common for white, older, more-educated Americans to have spoken with local journalists
Overall, about two-in-ten Americans say they have ever spoken with or been interviewed by a local journalist.
Activism in the Social Media Age
As the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag turns 5 years old, a look at its evolution on Twitter and how Americans view social media's impact on political and civic engagement
Declining Majority of Online Adults Say the Internet Has Been Good for Society
At the same time, the contours of connectivity are shifting: One-in-five Americans (20%) are now ‘smartphone only’ internet users at home.
Searching for News: The Flint water crisis
Many Americans turned to Google to learn about the Flint water crisis. An analysis of aggregated searches over time illustrates how, in today's digital environment, public interest shifts as a story unfolds.
Q&A: Using Google search data to study public interest in the Flint water crisis
Read an interview with Director of Journalism Research Amy Mitchell, who helped author the study.
Whites more likely than nonwhites to have spoken to a local journalist
Only 26% of U.S. adults say they have been interviewed by a local journalist. Among those who have, not everyone’s voice is equally likely to be heard.
Civic Engagement Strongly Tied to Local News Habits
Americans who are highly attached to their communities and who always vote in local elections stand out for displaying stronger local news habits than those less engaged.
Number of U.S. low-power FM radio stations has nearly doubled since 2014
A surge in new low-power FM (LPFM) community radio stations that have been licensed to join the FM airwaves is partially due to a new window for applications that the FCC opened.
