Whilst newspapers in general are no longer an especially popular source of news for the American public, engagement varies according to the type of publication. Local newspapers are read more frequently than nationals, with over 10 percent of U.S. adults responding to an August 2022 survey saying they read local papers every day.
Local vs. national news: which do readers prefer?
A survey held in 2022 found that although trust in news dropped since 2016, local news is still considered more trustworthy than national news. Indeed, the most recently available data shows that only a small percentage of U.S. adults trusted national news to report the news without bias, at 14 percent – less than half the share who had faith in local news to report in a nonpartisan manner. Local news was also considered more reliable for information about voting, getting the facts right, and giving consumers news they can use.
Waning trust in news
Trust in the media to report accurately and fairly is shaky. In 2022, almost 70 percent of U.S. adults had little to no trust in the news media, up by around 20 percent since 2000. Audiences unsure whether they can rely on news outlets to deliver the facts can suffer from news fatigue. Indeed, almost a third of consumers worldwide avoid news due to bias or finding it untrustworthy.
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Morning Consult. (October 17, 2022). Frequency of using national and local newspapers as a source of news among adults in the United States as of August 2022 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 18, 2026, from /statistics/1251195/newspaper-usage-frequency/
Morning Consult. "Frequency of using national and local newspapers as a source of news among adults in the United States as of August 2022." Chart. October 17, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 18, 2026. /statistics/1251195/newspaper-usage-frequency/
Morning Consult. (2022). Frequency of using national and local newspapers as a source of news among adults in the United States as of August 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 18, 2026. /statistics/1251195/newspaper-usage-frequency/
Morning Consult. "Frequency of Using National and Local Newspapers as a Source of News among Adults in The United States as of August 2022." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 17 Oct 2022, /statistics/1251195/newspaper-usage-frequency/
Morning Consult, Frequency of using national and local newspapers as a source of news among adults in the United States as of August 2022 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1251195/newspaper-usage-frequency/ (last visited July 18, 2026)
Frequency of using national and local newspapers as a source of news among adults in the United States as of August 2022 [Graph], Morning Consult, October 17, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1251195/newspaper-usage-frequency/
