U.S. — A survey of 3,560 U.S. adults conducted by the Pew Research Center from Dec. 8 to 14, 2025, found that 23% say they have ever spoken with or been interviewed by a local journalist or reporter. Conversely, 76% of U.S. adults say they have never had such interactions.

The 2025 figure represents a slight increase from 22% in 2024 and 21% in 2018, though it remains lower than the 26% reported in 2016.

Interaction rates varied across demographic groups. Among age groups, 21% of adults ages 18-29, 22% of those ages 30-49, 26% of adults ages 50-64, and 23% of adults ages 65 and older reported interacting with a local journalist. By gender, 26% of male U.S. adults reported interactions, compared to 21% of female U.S. adults.

Political affiliation showed 23% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 25% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents had spoken with a local journalist. Educational attainment also correlated with interaction rates: 30% of U.S. adults with at least a college degree reported interactions, as did 23% with some college education, and 17% with a high school diploma or less.

Income levels showed that 18% of adults with lower family incomes, 23% with middle family incomes, and 31% with upper family incomes had interacted with local journalists. Racial and ethnic groups also varied, with 26% of White U.S. adults, 21% of Black U.S. adults, 17% of Hispanic U.S. adults, and 11% of Asian U.S. adults indicating such interactions.

Community attachment correlated with these interactions. Among U.S. adults who reported being very attached to their local community, 34% had interacted with a local journalist. This compared to 23% of those somewhat attached, 20% of those not very attached, and 13% of those not at all attached to their local community.