Why it’s Needed
How people access local news has changed dramatically—and the data is clear. This shift in audience behavior is not just a trend—it’s a fundamental change in how communities consume information.
The Pew Research Center’s most recent survey (2024) regarding people’s preferred pathways to local news indicates more Americans prefer getting their local news online, through news websites or social media. Less than 1 in 10 Americans prefer getting their local news from a print newspaper or on the radio. Furthermore, of those who do still get local news from newspapers, nearly two-thirds prefer to access it through a digital edition rather than print.
The Pew Research Center’s updated News Platform Fact Sheet (Sept 2024) confirms the majority of Americans (86%) at least sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet. Just 24% reported they often or sometimes get news from print, the lowest number recorded in surveys to date.
The Newsroom Modernization Project was created to close this gap—helping local newsrooms adapt, grow, and remain essential to the communities they serve.