Enterprise Dispatch Blog

WRIGHT, MEEKER COUNTIES, MN – Do you like to know what’s happening in your community?

If you’re like most Americans, the answer is “yes.”

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, nearly three quarters of Americans (72 percent) report following local news closely “most of the time, whether or not something important is happening.”

Local newspapers were found to be, by far, the source people rely on for necessary information.

The survey included 2,251 adults ages 18 and older, and was conducted in English and Spanish. Of the 16 topics participants were asked about, many preferred newspapers for following crime, local politics, community events, or arts and culture.

About 25 percent favor newspapers for information about local schools, taxes, government activity, local business, and housing issues. A fifth of respondents primarily use newspapers for following restaurants, job openings, or local zoning issues.

Nearly a third of local news followers reported that it would have a major impact on them if their local newspaper no longer existed.

Those age 40 and older were more likely to report a major impact (35 percent), but 26 percent of younger local news enthusiasts also say that losing the local paper would have a major impact on them.

To learn more about the survey, go to www.pewinternet.org.