Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism and Internet & American Life Project has released the results of a survey which shows that nearly three quarters (72%) of adults are quite attached to following local news and information, and local newspapers are by far the source they rely on for much of the local information they need.
According to the survey, local news enthusiasts are substantially more wedded to their local newspapers than others. They are much more likely than others to say that if their local newspaper vanished, it would have a major impact on their ability to get the local information they want. This is especially true of local news followers age 40 and older, who differ from younger local news enthusiasts in some key ways.
One-third of local news enthusiasts (32%) say it would have a major impact on them if their local newspaper no longer existed, compared with just 19% of those less interested in local news. Most likely to report a major impact if their newspaper disappeared are local news followers age 40 and older (35%), though even among younger local news followers 26% say losing the local paper would have a major impact on them. In contrast, just 19% of adults who do not follow local news closely say they would feel a major impact and fully half (51%) say they would feel no impact at all from the loss of their local paper. Only 34% of local news enthusiasts feel this way.
These are among the main findings in a nationally-representative phone survey of 2,251 adults by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism and Internet & American Life Project, produced in association with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Read more …
The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from January 12 to 25, 2011, among a sample of 2,251 adults, age 18 and older. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (1,501) and cell phone (750, including 332 without a landline phone).
The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Center is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
What do you think? How important is local news to you? Would you notice if the Journal News vanished? How do the weekly papers (Sound & Town, New Rochelle Review, Sound Shore Rising, etc.) fill in for a daily paper? What about online alternatives (Talk of the Sound, Patch, Daily New Rochelle)?
In order to improve Talk of the Sound, what sort of news and information would you like to see more of on Talk of the Sound?
Mark Twain Said it Best
“If you don’t read a newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you do read a newspaper, you’re misinformed” . Didn’t know the Journal News was around that long.
Keep current to stay informed
I remember when it was a true local paper called The Standard Star. Local news is important to those with connections to their home town or city. It doesn’t matter how you get it. TV, Paper or internet, In order to stay informed it is important to read multiple outlets for information. The Journal news is very biased; I only get it for the TV Guide, obituaries and local sports. No need for them unless you are buying a car. I read some of the weekly papers The Sound & Town, New Rochelle Review and also fill in with online alternatives such as Talk of the Sound and The Patch. Most of the dialogue is good back and forth exchanges of points of view and ideas. However, there are those that go a little too far and hide behind their false name and monikers. Just need to keep the idle threats and name calling out of it? Be informed to be a part of the conversation. Not ignorant.