{"id":188030,"date":"2024-09-26T12:59:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T16:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=188030"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:04:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:04:48","slug":"friends-family-and-neighbors-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/09\/26\/friends-family-and-neighbors-are-americans-most-common-source-of-local-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Friends, family and neighbors are Americans\u2019 most common source of local news"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pew Knight Initiative<\/summary>\n
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The Pew-Knight Initiative supports new research on how Americans absorb civic information, form beliefs and identities, and engage in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Knight Foundation is a social investor committed to supporting informed and engaged communities. Learn more ><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Find more updated survey data about local news in our \u201c<\/em>Local News Fact Sheet<\/em><\/a>\u201d here.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Americans\u2019 relationship with local news is changing. More are getting news online, and fewer are turning to sources like daily newspapers, according to a Pew Research Center survey<\/a> conducted earlier this year. The survey is 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

However, one thing that has remained consistent is the importance of friends, family and neighbors as sources of local news for most Americans. In fact, they are the most<\/em> common<\/em> source of local news we asked about, ranking above television stations, radio stations and online forums like Facebook groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About three-quarters of Americans (73%) say they often or sometimes get local news from friends, family and neighbors. The next-highest source is TV stations, at 64%. In 2018, friends and family were also a common source of local news but had not yet surpassed TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friends, family and neighbors are a key source of local news for majorities of Americans regardless of age, political party, race or ethnicity.<\/p>\n\n\n

How we did this<\/div>