In 2024, the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University conducted its first in-depth survey of Chicago-area news consumers to understand how smartphones and social media were remaking the relationship between audiences and local news. Medill did a second survey in 2025. It now has completed a third annual study to capture not just a 2026 snapshot but a three-year timeline of the digital revolution’s impact on local news.
The survey results lay bare the severe pressure faced by legacy media to retain and grow audiences. Print has become a niche product, while linear broadcast TV and radio are losing their audiences at an alarming rate. One encouraging sign is that survey respondents say they maintain a strong interest in consuming local news. However, if news organizations believe that incorporating artificial intelligence is an easy fix for streamlining newsgathering at lower cost, they will need to think hard about their approaches. This year’s study looked closely at the relationship between consumers and AI. It found respondents are deeply skeptical of AI in news for anything more than helping to check spelling or grammar.
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