---
"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://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/amy-mitchell/"
  -
    "name": "J. Baxter Oliphant"
    "job_title": "Senior Researcher "
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/baxter-oliphant/"
  -
    "name": "Elisa Shearer"
    "job_title": "Senior Researcher"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/elisa-shearer/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/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"
"datasets":
  -
    "name": "American News Pathways April 2020 Survey"
    "url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/dataset/election-news-pathways-april-2020-survey/"
---

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

[![Most Americans pay equal attention to national and local COVID-19 news](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/04/Pathways_04.29.20.ch2-2.png?w=418){.alignright width=280}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/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://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/04/Pathways_04.29.20.ch2-1.png?w=620){.alignright width=280}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/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://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/04/Pathways_04.29.20.ch2-0.png?w=622){.alignright width=280}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/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.

---

**Next:** [3. Majority of Americans feel they need breaks from COVID 19 news; many say it takes an emotional toll](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/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/markdown)