Looking even more grim for print

The writing has been on the wall for print and now, for the first time, a Pew Research poll shows that the Internet has surpassed all other media except for television as the main source for national and international news for those surveyed.

For the first time in a Pew survey, more people say they rely mostly on the internet for news than cite newspapers (35%). Television continues to be cited most frequently as a main source for national and international news, at 70%.

For young people, however, the internet now rivals television as a main source of national and international news. Nearly six-in-ten Americans younger than 30 (59%) say they get most of their national and international news online; an identical percentage cites television.

TV networks watch out.

source: Pew Research Center

This news shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but it doesn’t bode well for those who like to feel the rustle of newsprint with their morning coffee. Combined with a sluggish economy and declining ad revenues, newspapers are hurting, as evidenced by recent warnings of further job losses at the Greenwich Time/Stamford Advocate chain by Hearst. You wonder who will be left to report the news.

Also of interest was the Top News Interest Stories of 2008 as measured by Pew’s News Interest Index.
If you were ever in doubt that the way to capture the attention of the American public is through their wallets, be in doubt no more. The economy and the election were the main focuses of our attention in 2008. The Iraq War didn’t even register in the top 15. Sign of success, fatigue, or just too worried about the problems at home to get worked up about what’s going on over there?

source: Pew Research Center