According to a new Pew Research Center analysis, 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.
Even as news consumption is becoming more digital, local news exchanges among friends, family and neighbors still largely happen through word of mouth (in person or over the phone) as opposed to on social media, in emails or in texts. A majority (62%) of those who get local news from friends and family say they usually get this news via word of mouth.
This share is down from the 71% of Americans who said they got this news via word of mouth in 2018. Meanwhile, the share who get it via social media has increased from 17% in 2018 to 25% in 2024.
Getting local news on specific topics
Friends, family and neighbors are also among the top sources for two of the most common local news topics: politics and crime. About seven-in-ten Americans say they get local government news and local crime news from friends, family and neighbors. That’s about the same share as those who say they get local political and crime news from news outlets.
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