These are friends, family and neighbors the most together The source of local news ranks ahead of television, radio and online forums like Facebook groups, according to a new survey. “Americans’ relationship with local news is changing. More and more people are getting news online and fewer are turning to sources such as daily newspapers. What has remained the same, however, is the importance of friends, family and neighbors as sources for local news.”

The Pew Research Center survey is part of the Pew Knight Initiative, a research program jointly funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

It is no surprise that fewer and fewer people are turning to daily newspapers. TResearchers at the Medill School of Journalism, Media found that the loss of local newspapers in the United States accelerated to an average of 2.5 per week in 2023, leaving more than 200 counties with a local newspaper.

73% of the Pew survey said they often or sometimes get local news from friends, family and neighbors. The second highest source is television channels at 64%. In 2018, friends and family were also a common source of local news, but had not yet overtaken television.

“Friends, family and neighbors are an important source of local news for the majority of Americans, regardless of age, political party, race or ethnicity,” Pew says.

“Even as news consumption becomes more digital, local news sharing between friends, family, and neighbors still occurs largely through word of mouth (in person or by phone) rather than through social media, email, or text messages. A majority (62%) of those who get local news from friends and family say they typically get this news through word of mouth.”

This share is below the 71% of Americans who said they received this news through word of mouth in 2018. Meanwhile, the proportion who receive them via social media has increased from 17% in 2018 to 25% in 2024.

Friends, family and neighbors are also among the top sources for two of the most common local news topics: politics and crime.

About seven in 10 say they get news from local government and local crime news from friends, family and neighbors. That's about the same share as those who say they get local political and crime news from news outlets.

73% say they have spoken to friends, family or neighbors about crime in their local community. This is far higher than the proportions who say they have posted or shared on social media or elsewhere online (21%), spoken to local officials or police (19%), or communicated with a journalist (5% ).

72% of respondents who receive news about local crime from friends, family and neighbors believe it is at least somewhat accurate, although only 10% think it is very Exactly. Another 17% say the information is not accurate or not accurate at all, while 10% are unsure.

The proportion who say they are at least somewhat accurate is higher than the proportion who say the same about news from locally targeted apps like Nextdoor, social media or local politicians.