People employ different sources of news for reading such as online news, newspaper, television news and radio. According to Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press, people who watch online news increased by 12%, people using newspaper as their main source for news decreased by 7% and people who watch news on television increased by 9% from 2006 to 2008.
Increase in usage of online news by 12%
With advent use of technology, people using online news increased more than the actual newspaper reading. Usage of daily online news increased by 7% from 18% in 2000 to 25% in 2006. It further increased to 37% in 2008 an increase of 12% from 2006. 36% of adults from 25-34 years use online news as their source. Online news reading is gaining popularity among the people online.
Decrease in usage of print news by 7%
Newspaper is a traditional source of news but increase in Internet usage has changed its importance. Usage of newspaper was 41% in 2000 and decreased to 34% in 2008 with an overall decrease of 7%. Newspaper reading has decreased from 40% in 2006 to 34% in 2008. 55% of people above 65 years use newspaper as their source of news. Newspapers would have suffered greater losses without their online versions.
Television continues as top news source with 57% market share
Television news audiences increased when compared to traditional source of news (newspaper) and modern source of news (online). In 2000 the number of users using television for news was 48%, and in 2008 it is increased to 57%, an overall increase of 9%. Television news ranked as number one source for news with 57% in 2008. More than four in every ten are watching television news and 37% of total users of television news view only nightly network news broadcasts.
Americans’ news consumption patterns are changing. Online news is gaining popularity as it is able to provide a variety of global news and information anytime of the day. While Internet usage for news is growing, newspaper usage is decreasing but television continues its glory as their primary source for news.
