• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, Yesterday

All talk to the contrary, Americans haven’t changed the way they get news, judging by a new poll from Pew Research Center.  

“The information environment has experienced major changes in recent years, from the rise of podcasts and news influencers on social media to declining audiences for traditional news outlets,” Pew notes. “But overall, there has been little shift in the way Americans prefer to get their news – whether by watching it, reading it or listening to it.” 

In 2025, 44% watch news, 37% read it and 19% listen to it. 

In 2018, 47% were watching it, 34% reading it and 19% listening. 

That one comparison could be meaningful – a 4% dip for watching and a 3% hike in reading. 

But it depends on age. Of people age 65+, only 28% read it, 57% watch it and 13% listen to it. Gen X is closer to the older age group, and millennials are more like Gen Z.  

The numbers are different for Gen Z – 45% read the news, 31% watch it and 23% listen.  

Overall, 62% who like to watch news do so on television and 34% on digital devices. Of those who like to read it, 80% do so on digital devices. Only 11% choose print, and 6% TV. 

Among Americans who like listening, 52% prefer digital devices, including 21% who favor podcasts, 20% prefer radio and and 23% like TV best.