One of the most transformational aspects of the internet is just how much information is now accessible. Any individual with an internet-enabled device can research virtually any topic and get results from around the globe. This ubiquitous access to information has allowed people to hear about and even see (through video) news and events as they unfold thousands of miles away.
For example:
- All eyes turned to Syria and Europe this past year as refugees fled their country in search of a safer place to live.
- Readers from around the globe learned about the devastation brought on by earthquakes in Japan and Italy immediately after the quakes occurred.
- Non-US citizens can follow the latest developments in the US Presidential Election in advance of Nov. 8.
Yet despite this widespread access to news from around the globe, new research from Crowdynews finds that US readers by and large prefer local news.
The Power of Local News
Consumers get overwhelmed by news content these days, in part because social networks allow news consumption throughout the day and from a multitude of sources. But consumers also want to know what happened in their city or on the street where they live.
45.8% of respondents in a recent survey of more than 500 US news consumers said they prefer local news to other types. This is about 6 percentage points higher than national/international news, which 40% of respondents prefer.
Download the report now to get the full summary, including:
- Preferences by gender and age
- Social media consumption frequency
- Social content format preferences
Interested in more research? Try the following reports from Crowdynews: