In what may give some TV
news networks and local TV stations some pause going into next year’s Presidential and Senate election period, only 38% of U.S. adults “closely follow the news,” according to a
just-released 2022 Pew Research study.
This is virtually the same level as the prior year -- but down from a 51% level in 2016. Pew defines these viewers as those who say they
follow the news “all or most of the time.”
Pew said the declining percentages are seen across all demographic groups -- including the most ardent news
followers -- those age 65 years and older, who are now at a 64% level (dropping from 75% in 2016).
Younger news followers continue to have the worst results, with 30-49
viewers down to a 27% level (compared to 46% in 2016), while 18-29 viewers are at 19% (down from 27% in 2016).
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Pew says Republican-leaning viewers have dropped more
steeply among those who follow the news “all or most of the time” to 37% from 57% (in 2016). Democrat-leading viewers have seen much slighter declines -- 42% (in 2022) from 49%
(2016).
Pew Research Center analysis of its most recent news survey was conducted with 12,147 U.S. adults from July 18 to August 21, 2022.