Journalists

Nearly three out of four U.S. adults say that, in general, it’s important for journalists to function as watchdogs over elected officials.

Overall, about two-in-ten Americans say they have ever spoken with or been interviewed by a local journalist.

There are partisan divisions over certain aspects of local news reporting, including whether local journalists should express views on local issues.

Newsroom employees are more than twice as likely as other U.S. workers to be college graduates. But they tend to make less money than college-educated workers in other industries.

The U.S. has more foreign students enrolled in its colleges and universities than any other country in the world. Explore data about foreign students in the U.S. higher education system.

Between 2009 and 2014, the number of Washington-based reporters for local newspapers accredited by the Senate to cover Congress declined by 11%.

The public's muted response on possible government monitoring of their online behavior differs from that of investigative journalists, whose work makes them potential targets for monitoring.

The U.S.-based members of Investigative Reporters & Editors we surveyed were asked to describe how electronic surveillance and hacking have influenced their work or journalism as a whole.

Two-thirds of IRE journalists believe the U.S. government has probably collected data on their communications. But few have been dissuaded to pursue a story because of such concerns.