Media Industry

A survey of U.S.-based journalists finds 77% would choose their career all over again, though 57% are highly concerned about future restrictions on press freedom.

Most of our research on the U.S. news environment has been from the viewpoint of the public, but this time we surveyed journalists themselves.

Local newspapers have been hit particularly hard by the transition to digital news consumption in recent years, with many forced to shutter their doors permanently.

In Missouri, 51% of all reporters covering the state capitol this year – 26 of 51 – are students.

Nonprofit news reporters now account for 20% of the nation’s total statehouse press corps, up from 6% eight years ago.

The total number of journalists assigned to state capitol buildings is up 11% since 2014, though figures vary widely by state. And as newspapers employ fewer statehouse reporters, nonprofits are filling much of the void.

There are 245 newspaper reporters who cover the statehouse full time in 2022 in the United States, down from 374 in 2014.

The declining public trust in the news media and polarization of news audiences have profound effects on civic life.

Pew Research Center’s political typology sorts Americans into cohesive, like-minded groups based on their values, beliefs, and views about politics and the political system. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics.

We’ve updated our series of fact sheets on the U.S. news media industry. Here are some key findings about the state of the industry in 2020.