In today’s fragmented media landscape, perceptions of what is considered “news” are increasingly subjective, and are shaped by personal values, trust in sources, and digital consumption habits. Americans are exposed to more information from more sources than ever before. As the lines between news, entertainment, commentary, and other types of content blur, questions about what “news” means to Americans are less straightforward than they once were. To explore these shifting dynamics, The Pew Research Center and PSB Insights dove deep with Americans to better understand how they define and engage with news in today’s digital landscape. This effort was part of the Pew-Knight Initiative, which seeks to uncover how people absorb civic information, form beliefs, and participate in their communities.
Through a dynamic one-week long online bulletin board (OBB) with Americans, this study investigated key questions about what makes information “news,” how trust and identity shape perceptions, and the emotional responses people have toward news. Leveraging this methodology – which allows respondents to participate at their leisure throughout the week – allowed us to collect rich, in the moment feedback while reducing biases often present in other, more traditional research approaches.
Key Findings from the “What Is News?” Report
- News Remains Important: Over three-quarters of Americans say they follow the news at least some of the time, and 44% say they intentionally seek out the news often.
- Subjective Definitions of News: Americans classify information as “news” based on its relevance to their lives, interests, and trust in the source. “Hard news” focusing on important or consequential topics like politics, conflict, economics, and crime is more likely to be considered news than “soft news” covering entertainment, celebrities, and sports.
- Trust Drives Perceptions: Information from credible, trusted sources is more likely to be classified as news, highlighting the importance of reliability in shaping public views. Coverage of “hard news” topics that is viewed as biased, sensationalized, or otherwise inaccurate is less likely to be considered news.
- Emotional Responses: News consumption is often associated with negative emotions such as anger or sadness, but Americans also say it helps them feel informed and believe that they “need” to keep up with it.
- Partisanship Shapes Engagement: Political leanings heavily influence which stories participants deem important or trustworthy, underscoring the role of bias in news consumption. Over half of Americans say it is important that their news sources have political views similar to their own.
- Generational Differences in News Discovery: Older adults rely on traditional outlets like TV and newspapers, while younger generations encounter news primarily through social media algorithms and peer sharing.
Check out the full report here.
For more information, please contact Rebecca Bukele at rbukele@psbinsights.com.
