{"id":311718,"date":"2024-09-26T13:36:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T17:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?prc_email_campaign=friends-and-family-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news"},"modified":"2026-06-08T12:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T16:30:27","slug":"friends-and-family-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news","status":"publish","type":"prc_email_campaign","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/newsletter\/the-briefing\/friends-and-family-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Friends and family are Americans\u2019 most common source of local news"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2600\ufe0f Happy Thursday!<\/strong>\u00a0<em>The Briefing is your guide to the world of news and information<\/em>.<em> <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/sign-up-for-the-briefing\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/sign-up-for-the-briefing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Sign up here!<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In today<em>\u2019<\/em>s email:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Featured story:<\/strong> States push to regulate AI use in political campaigns<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>New from Pew Research Center<\/strong>: Friends, family and neighbors as a source of local news<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>In other news:<\/strong> Israel shuts down Al Jazeera office in the West Bank<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Looking ahead:<\/strong> The New York Times will offer podcast subscriptions on Apple and Spotify<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Chart of the week:<\/strong> Friends, family and neighbors are a more common source for local news than newspapers, TV or radio stations<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd25\u00a0<strong>Top story<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the U.S. presidential election approaches, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/09\/22\/ai-regulation-election-laws-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">at least 26 states<\/a> have passed or are considering bills to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns. This comes as concerns grow over AI&#8217;s potential to mislead or even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/02\/08\/1229641751\/ai-deepfakes-election-risks-lawmakers-tech-companies-artificial-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suppress voters<\/a>. Uses of AI vary, though: <a href=\"https:\/\/restofworld.org\/2024\/aapi-victory-alliance-ai-voter-outreach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Some political campaigns<\/a> are using these technologies to reach voters facing language barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Many Americans are wary about the impact of AI on the 2024 election.<\/strong> A <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/09\/19\/concern-over-the-impact-of-ai-on-2024-presidential-campaign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new Center survey<\/a> finds that 57% of U.S. feel extremely or very concerned that people or organizations seeking to influence the election will use AI to create and distribute fake or misleading information about the candidates and campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About four-in-ten Americans (39%) say AI will be used mostly for <em>bad <\/em>purposes during the presidential campaign, compared with only 5% who say it will be used mostly for <em>good <\/em>purposes. Another 27% say it will be used about equally for good and bad purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udea8 <strong>New from Pew Research Center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans\u2019 relationship with local news is changing. More people are getting news online, and fewer are turning to more traditional sources like daily newspapers. However, <strong>the role of friends, family and neighbors as key sources of local news for most Americans remains consistent.<\/strong> In fact, they are the <em>most common<\/em> source of local news asked about in a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/09\/26\/friends-family-and-neighbors-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pew Research Center survey<\/a> conducted earlier this year as part of the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program funded jointly by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read the full analysis of how Americans get local news from friends, family and neighbors <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/09\/26\/friends-family-and-neighbors-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc\u00a0<strong>In other news<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Israel<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/israel-palestinians-al-jazeera-gaza-war-hamas-4abdb2969e39e7ad99dfbf9caa7bb32c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shuts down<\/a> <strong>Al Jazeera\u2019s office<\/strong> in the West Bank<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Vice <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adweek.com\/media\/vice-subscription-magazine-relaunch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">returns with print magazine<\/a>, subscription offerings<\/li>\n\n\n<li>A <strong>New York Magazine writer<\/strong> is on leave after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/09\/20\/nx-s1-5120486\/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-jr-ny-magazine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">admitting a personal relationship with subject<\/a> <strong>Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>News publishers turn to WhatsApp<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/09\/24\/business\/media\/whatsapp-news-outlets.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NE4.zpWv.Y11eRHwMCdVl&amp;smid=url-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to reach readers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Alex Jones\u2019 Infowars <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/alex-jones-infowars-bankruptcy-sandy-hook-shooting-9052caad16dcdfd3bff0697454394d9f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to be liquidated, auctioned off<\/a> to pay <strong>Sandy Hook<\/strong> families<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Univision<\/strong> will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/09\/25\/univision-harris-trump-town-halls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">host separate town halls<\/a> with <strong>Harris, Trump<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>X <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/09\/21\/world\/americas\/elon-musk-x-brazil.html?unlocked_article_code=1.MU4.vF-1.G8FMn_vW3QBK&amp;smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare&amp;sgrp=c-cb&amp;ngrp=mnp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">concedes legal fight<\/a> in <strong>Brazil, <\/strong>complies with court orders<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udcc5\u00a0<strong>Looking ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The New York Times<\/strong> has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/09\/24\/new-york-times-audio-subscriptions-apple-spotify\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced it will offer audio subscription services<\/a> through <strong>Apple Podcasts<\/strong> and <strong>Spotify\u00a0<\/strong>beginning in October. For most Times podcasts, only the latest two or three episodes will be offered for free, with older episodes available through paid subscription.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2023\/06\/15\/podcast-ownership-and-funding\/#about-half-of-top-ranked-podcasts-seek-financial-support-from-listeners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A 2022 analysis of top-ranked podcasts<\/a>\u00a0found that about half (47%) sought out financial support from listeners, including 31% that offered a paid subscription. At the time, podcasts that were affiliated with a larger organization were <em>less <\/em>likely than independent podcasts to offer subscriptions (23% vs. 47%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udcca\u00a0<strong>Chart of the week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our chart of the week highlights the role that <strong>friends, family and neighbors<\/strong> play in how Americans are getting local news and information. According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/09\/26\/friends-family-and-neighbors-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news\/\">new Center analysis<\/a>, these types of personal connections are the most common source of local news for U.S. adults, ranking above TV stations, radio stations and online forums like Facebook groups. About three-quarters of Americans (73%) say they often or sometimes get local news from friends, family and neighbors, up from 66% who said the same in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e0e1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e0e1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"1304\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/09\/sr_2024.09.26_news-family-friends_01_36eb21.png?resize=480,1010 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/09\/sr_2024.09.26_news-family-friends_01_36eb21.png?resize=620,1304 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/09\/sr_2024.09.26_news-family-friends_01_36eb21.png\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that friends, family and neighbors are a more common local news source than newspapers, TV or radio stations\" class=\"wp-image-188164 not-transparent\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\ud83d\udc4b That&#8217;s all for this week.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Briefing is compiled by Pew Research Center staff, including Naomi Forman-Katz, Jacob Liedke, Sarah Naseer, Christopher St. Aubin, Luxuan Wang and Emily Tomasik. It is edited by Michael Lipka and Kirsten Eddy, and copy edited by Anna Jackson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Do you like this newsletter? Email us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:journalism@pewresearch.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">journalism@pewresearch.org<\/a> or fill out this <a href=\"https:\/\/us1.list-manage.com\/survey?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&amp;id=449f3c3d35&amp;attribution=false\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/us1.list-manage.com\/survey?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&amp;id=449f3c3d35&amp;attribution=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">two-question survey<\/a> to tell us what you think<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plus, states push for regulating AI use in political campaigns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5591,"template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","prc_watchers":[],"footnotes":"","prc_email_subject":"Friends and family are Americans\u2019 most common source 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