Local news is playing an important role for Americans during COVID-19 outbreak
Some 61% of U.S. adults say they follow COVID-19 news at both the national and local level equally, and 23% say they pay more attention to local news.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Some 61% of U.S. adults say they follow COVID-19 news at both the national and local level equally, and 23% say they pay more attention to local news.
About eight-in-ten Americans (79%) say news organizations tend to favor one side when presenting the news on political and social issues.
More than two-thirds of adults ages 65 or older said they were following news of the pandemic very closely.
The percentage who say journalists have exaggerated the risks of the outbreak has decreased notably in recent weeks.
Many U.S. news organizations are covering the coronavirus pandemic while themselves facing financial pressure from the outbreak.
In total, 20% of all Democrats get political news only from outlets with left-leaning audiences, while 18% of all Republicans do so only from outlets with right-leaning audiences.
Americans’ confidence in checking COVID-19 information aligns closely with their confidence in checking the accuracy of news stories broadly.
Americans who closely follow political news are more likely to have confidence that the public will accept election results. And that’s true across party boundaries.
Concern is highest among people who follow political news most closely, older adults and those who display more knowledge about politics in general.
Responses to cable news coverage and the pandemic vary notably among Americans who identify Fox News, MSNBC or CNN as their main source of political news.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
© 2024 Pew Research Center