News format and delivery differ
Preferences crossed platform boundaries.
- Event / announcement date
- 2025-11-20
Pew’s November 20, 2025 analysis found 44% of U.S. adults preferred watching news, 37% reading and 19% listening. The shares changed little since 2018, despite the changing platforms carrying news. [1]
Format did not dictate delivery: 34% of news watchers preferred digital devices; 80% of readers did. Listening also extended beyond radio: 52% of listeners preferred digital devices. These were stated preferences, rather than measurements of viewing time or newsroom revenue. [1]
The distinction has a history. Pew’s December 2018 study asked separate format and platform questions, defining internet access to include websites, apps and social media. Most news readers already favoured the web. Moving distribution online therefore need not mean abandoning text: presentation and delivery can change at different speeds. [2]
The source
- Pew Research Center: News formats ↗
Source date 2025-11-20 · reviewed October 29, 2026 - Pew Research Center: Format history ↗
Source date 2018-12-03 · reviewed October 29, 2026
About this item: Retrospective report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.
