Local News
Local TV Stations are the Top News Source for Breaking News
More adults choose local TV stations as their main source news over any other major medium. Nothing is more evident than when breaking news and critical events occur. People flock to local television news as their top source for information.
When Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast in September, 2011, people relied on their local television station news more than any other source for critical information.
See the full study conducted by Marshall Marketing (PDF)
Top Daily News Source
On any given day, American adults get news from local or national news broadcasts, the internet, radio, or newspapers. As many as 92% follow news on multiple platforms. But more adults choose local TV stations as their daily source of news over any other major medium.
On a typical day:
- 78% of Americans get news from a local TV station
- 73% get news from a national television network
- 61% get some kind of news online
- 54% listen to a radio news program at home or in the car
- 50% read news in the print version of a local newspaper
- 17% read news in the print version national newspaper
More people turn to broadcast television first for local weather, traffic or sports.
Sources: Pew Internet & American Life Project Survey '10; TVB/Knowledge Networks Media Comparisons Study '10