Radio Holds Strong In Local News As Podcasts Expand Reach With Younger Audiences.

Radio continues to hold a meaningful place in Americans’ daily news habits and remains closely tied to the country’s most trusted news category, even as podcasts and creator-driven media reshape how younger audiences consume information, according to a new study from the Media Insight Project.

The study finds radio remains a steady part of the media mix, with about a quarter of Americans saying they get news from radio at least once a day. The report also found Republicans are more likely than Democrats to use radio daily for news, by a 31% to 17% margin.

Radio’s biggest advantage continues to be local news. The study says local news outlets — including television, newspapers, and radio — remain widely used across all demographics and are viewed more positively than other types of news sources. About three in four Americans say they get local news from at least one source often or sometimes, while local news ranked highest overall for trust and usefulness.

“In an increasingly fractured media ecosystem, age is a major factor in determining people’s news and information needs and priorities,” the study says. The report notes that “local news remains widely used and positively viewed,” even as the platforms delivering it vary by age.

Older audiences are especially reliant on those traditional sources, with 88% of adults 65 and older saying they get local news from at least one source vs. 79% of teens. But even here, generational differences are clear. Teens are significantly more likely to access local news through digital-first channels, with 48% saying they get local news from influencers or independent creators vs. 23% of adults 65 and older.

Across platforms, trust remains a key differentiator. Fewer than half of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in any news source, but local news ranks highest, followed by national news and independent creators. As the report puts it, “confidence in news sources is low across the board,” though local outlets continue to stand apart.

“Local news continues to occupy an essential role in the media landscape, though it is one of the most threatened sectors of journalism,” the report says. “Local news is considered better than national news at giving people useful information.”

While podcasts continue to align with younger, on-demand consumption habits, they remain a secondary news source overall. Roughly half of Americans say they never use podcasts for news. Even so, podcasts continue to show traction with younger consumers and within paid media habits. About two in ten Americans say they personally pay for or donate to podcasts or public radio. Teens are also more likely than any other age group to use podcasts that someone else pays for, suggesting the format continues to have strong exposure among younger audiences even if direct subscription habits remain limited.

The Media Insight Project is a collaboration of The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the American Press Institute, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism and the Local News Network at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This study features a combined sample of 1,092 respondents ages 18 and older and 1,009 respondents 13-17, both nationally representative.

Download the full report HERE.