Where news is heading

Where news is headingKey trends in American journalism, news and technology

Jesse HolcombAssociate Director of Journalism Research, Pew Research Center

May 3, 2023 2www.pewresearch.org

Many pathways to news


Big shifts in devices people use to access information


Coincides with a shift in the services they use


Most have pay TV, though some are cutting the cord


Interest in news is as high as ever


About four-in-ten Americans often get news online, but TV still commands the largest reach


News watchers overwhelmingly still prefer television, while readers have migrated to the web

Non-journalistic sources now part of public’s media landscape, too



Social media’s sharp rise as a prominent pathway to news

Digital publishers have established presence on most social platforms



Americans are quickly migrating to mobile

Our study of ‘engaged time’ spent with news on mobilesuggests engagement can expand to meet the demandsof more in-depth journalism



News habits differ starkly by generation


Economic pressures continue for publishers

Total revenue across industry has declined dramatically



Most of the losses felt in print


TV news steady, with some growth


Digital advertising a growing business, but unevenly distributed

Public radio stations areone of the more revenue-diverse news enterprises


More news revenue now coming from the audience


Crowd-funding just one example



Mapping American newsgathering and newsroom resources


Sharpest declines in newsroom workforce since 2009

39%Percent decline of

newsroom staff 1994-2014, according to ASNE

Impact felt on the local level

In DC: print scales back, digital publishers plant a flag

05/03/23 28

Fewer communities with a Washington correspondent

05/03/23 29


Nonprofit startups proliferating


Public attitudes: the trust and approval deficit


Low marks for national news media


Trust is higher for news orgs than for social media

Americans largely believein the media’s watchdogrole, but also write offthe media as biased


Where news is headingKey trends in American journalism, news and technology

Jesse HolcombAssociate Director of Journalism Research, Pew Research Center

Where news is heading

News & Politics

Transcript of Where news is heading