Twenty percent (20 percent) often get their news via social media. In 2018, the number who often get news from print newspapers continued its decline and fell to 16 percent.
The Pew Research Center data shows that television remains the top choice for news, cited as a frequent source by 49 percent of Americans. And among television news viewers, local television stations remain the favorite. Thirty-seven percent (37 percent) often get news from a local TV station, 30 percent from cable TV, and 25 percent from national evening news shows.
There is, however, a wide generation gap when it comes to news consumption. The data shows that television is far and away the top news source for those 50 and older. Among those 30 to 49, news websites edge out TV as a top source.
Among those under 30, social media is the number one news source.
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.
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