Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast America Is Rewriting Its Relationship with News | Behind the Numbers
Mar 30, 2026
Michael Lipka, Associate Director of Research at Pew Research Center who studies how Americans get their news, shares what he studies and why defining news is getting harder. He discusses where people encounter news today, generational gaps in news habits, rising use of AI and incidental news exposure, and how declining trust shapes changing behaviors.
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Most People Tune Into News Out Of Duty
- Many Americans consume news because they feel they must, not because they enjoy it.
- Pew found only 9% say they mainly enjoy news, about 25% follow it out of obligation, and ~50% do both.
News Has Fractured Across Many New Channels
- News now appears in a dizzying array of places beyond traditional outlets, fracturing audiences.
- Pew notes TV, radio, print remain for older groups while social, podcasts, newsletters, search and AI reach different slices.
Social Media Is The Go-To For Younger News Consumers
- Social media is the dominant news source for younger adults while older adults prefer TV and traditional platforms.
- Pew: 76% of 18–29-year-olds get news on social media versus 28% of 65+, with Instagram and TikTok driving the gap.