The project evaluates the public's perception of news on radio, compares radio news today with available benchmarks and considers what radio news might become in the future. The survey reveals a complex picture of the radio news audience.
Radio is both the most widely available news source and a very personal medium.
Although television remains the dominant news medium, the study found that most people have greater contact with radio throughout their day. For example, about one-third of adults turn to radio for their news when they get up and are getting ready for their day. The survey found that older respondents prefer radio news, but younger respondents get a greater portion of their news from radio. In addition, radio news is perceived as an easy and relevant way to stay abreast of the day's events, and news is an accepted and expected part of the medium's programming. Adults ages 18 to 64 reported listening to an average of three hours of radio per weekday.