• by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, August 1, 2006

Ten years ago, only the most tech-savvy 2 percent of consumers went online for news. Today, 31 percent of Americans visit the Web for news at least three days a week.

That's according to the latest biennial report by The Pew Research Center For The People & The Press.

But, while readers increasingly consume news online, the Web isn't yet about to replace print publications, according to the report, which was based on telephone interviews with 3,204 U.S. adults in April and May.

"The Web serves mostly as a supplement to other sources rather than a primary source of news," states the report. In fact, the most used news Web sites are the ones that post and update stories throughout the day; the five news sites used most often are MSNBC, Yahoo, CNN, Google and AOL, according to the report.

The report also found that the Web has helped national newspapers grow their audience. Eighteen percent of U.S. adults who told researchers they read an online newspaper the day before they were questioned said they read the New York Times online. Nine percent of the group citing newspaper use read the Washington Post online, while 7 percent read USA Today online.

Pew also examined the role that portable devices play in news consumption. The conclusion, not surprisingly, was that younger consumers are more likely than older ones to receive news via mobile gadgets. Thirteen percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 said they had received news via cell phone, PDA or podcast, while 14 percent of between 30 and 39 said the same. Overall, just 7 percent of respondents said they had received news on a portable device.

Hey, All You Stars... It's that time again: MediaPost seeks nominations for the Online All Stars. We are seeking individuals who exemplify excellence and leadership in online media, marketing and advertising. Media company executives and online ad technology providers/vendors will not be considered. The editors will select three marketers, three media agency strategists and three creative directors who passionately evangelize and deploy digital media and marketing strategies. The All Stars will be feted at a party on Sept. 25 during the OMMA Conference & Expo and honored in the pages of OMMA magazine's October issue. Send all nominations to telkin@mediapost.com with "All Stars" in the subject line by Aug. 4.