How do you get your news?

Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary sources of news are (Question 51 – see more below). They said:

• 29% Online news websites
• 26% TV (broadcast or network)
• 20% Social media

Sad to say, only 5% said their primary sources are once-mighty newspapers like The News & Observer, where I started my career.

Newspapers ranked just behind radio (6%) and were tied with podcasts (5%).

(But wait: maybe newspaper websites are some of the online sources. Hope springs eternal.)

We also asked (Q55) how often they watch or listen to several news sources.

Most-watched were local news stations (29%) and national news networks (15%).

That’s why you see so many political ads then. That’s also why the ads cost so much and campaigns spend so much.

Fox News and podcasts tied at 12%; 7% watch MSNOW (formerly MSNBC) and 5%, CNN.

We asked (Q56) which social media platforms they get news from: 30% said Facebook, 13% You Tube, 11% Instagram and 7% TikTok.

Only 6% said X, formerly Twitter.

Take that, Elon Musk.

To see the poll’s questions and statewide results, go here.