Despite the dominance of digital media, radio remains a relevant source of news for many Americans, especially older and conservative listeners, according to a new survey from YouGov. The survey shows that 29% of U.S. adults reported using radio for news in the past month, a slight uptick from 27% the year before. Still, radio trails behind social media (61%), television (60%), and even conversations with friends and family (45%) as a news source.
The data points to a demographic divide. Among adults aged 45 and older, 34% turn to radio for news, compared to just 23% of those aged 18 to 44. Political affiliation also plays a role: 37% of Republicans and 32% of Independents reported using radio for news, while only 23% of Democrats said the same. However, Democrats showed the largest increase year-over-year, climbing six percentage points to 35%, suggesting a potential shift in the platform’s appeal.
Digital news platforms continue to grow rapidly. Social media use for news jumped seven points over the past year. Podcasts, news apps, aggregators, and websites also saw increases across nearly every demographic group. Still, this digital growth comes with a trust gap. A 2024 study by Katz Radio Group found that nearly 80% of U.S. adults consider radio a trustworthy news source—higher than newspapers and significantly ahead of social media, which scored just 27%.
In the YouGov survey, NPR stood out as the only radio organization ranked among the top tier of trusted news sources. NPR received a net trust score of +17, tying with Reuters and the Associated Press and outperforming all major television networks.
Radio continues to outperform some newer formats. Only 11% of respondents use blogs for news, 5% use AI chatbots, and 22% use email newsletters. Podcasts and video platforms, at 25% and 16% respectively, remain behind radio in total reach.
Still, the future of news consumption is leaning digital. Consumers increasingly value personalized, flexible, and mobile-accessible news experiences. For radio to maintain its role, the challenge will be finding ways to modernize without losing the trust and familiarity that have long defined the medium.