New Jersey residents report the seventh-highest level of satisfaction with local political journalism, according to survey by researchers at Rutgers and other universities

Americans rely primarily on personal networks and news media for voting information about the 2024 U.S. presidential election, according to a survey by researchers at Rutgers and other universities.

Younger adults and people with less formal education get information from friends and family, while older, wealthier and more educated people prefer news sources.

These findings raise important questions about the role of local and national media in shaping democratic participation, the researchers said.

“Our research showed that preferences for information sources also differ according to political views,” he said. Katherine OgnyanovaAssociate professor in the field of communication Rutgers School of Communication and Information. “Democrats and independents prefer the news media more, while Republicans prefer personal networks. Although national news sources are more popular than local news sources, local media use is higher among older Americans and those with lower income and education levels. Satisfaction with local political news varies widely; Higher satisfaction levels are seen among black respondents, Democrats and urban residents. D.C. and New York report the highest satisfaction with local news; “On dissatisfaction, Montana and Idaho score highest.”

The report said, “2024 US Elections: News and Information Resources” Public Health and Institutions ProjectIt is a joint initiative of Rutgers University, Northeastern University, Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, and the University of Rochester. Conducted between August 30 and October 8, researchers collected data from 25,518 Americans ages 18 and older in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Those who responded were asked It’s about “the most important source of information they trust when deciding to vote in 2024.”

Their answers ranged from discussions with friends and family to party candidacy to support from unions, celebrities or clergy, the researchers said.

“While this report provides insight into the sources Americans use for election information, it does not explore why. People can choose or avoid certain types of news, Ognyanova said. “In the case of local media, for example, it remains unclear whether their limited use reflects personal preference or is the result of limited access. “The decline of local media and the rise of news deserts across the U.S. means local news may not be available for many Americans.”

Between findings:

• Friends and family (29%) and news media (26%) are Americans’ top sources for voting information; While young people (18-24 years old) are more inclined to personal networks, the older population (over 65 years old) prefers news media. .
• Overall, less than a tenth (9%) of respondents use social media
• It was the most important source of election news. The percentage was higher
• among young people (14%) and non-White Americans (13%).
• Americans with less formal education tend to rely more on friends and family for election information, while those with higher education and income are more likely to prefer news media.
• Democrats and independents trust the news media more (29%), while Republicans get information more from friends and family (34%).
• Local media is the main source of election information for 8% of Americans, while 17% prefer national media. Three-quarters of Americans cite sources other than the news media as their main way to stay informed about the 2024 elections.
• Older Americans, as well as those with lower incomes and education, are relying mostly on local news for 2024 election information.
• Across the U.S., the states most likely to trust national news for election information are Connecticut (26%), Massachusetts (26%), and Nevada (25%), while the states where people are most likely to trust local news are Hawaii (14%), Louisiana (14%), 13%) and South Carolina (12%).
• Twenty-five percent of Americans say they are “very satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with local political news; Satisfaction levels are relatively higher among Black respondents (35%), Democrats (38%), and those living in urban areas (33%).
• Americans with higher incomes and levels of formal education are more likely to report satisfaction with local political news.
• The District of Columbia (48%), New York (42%), North Carolina (33%), Pennsylvania (33%), Michigan (31%) and Illinois (30%) reported the highest satisfaction with local news about politics.
• Conversely, Montana (50%), Idaho (49%), Wyoming (45%), New Mexico (45%) and New Hampshire (40%) were the most dissatisfied with local news.

Ognyanova Conducting research in the fields of network science, computational social science, social technology, media and civil and political communication, Rutgers Computational Social Science Laboratory.