Where Americans Get News Predicts Action

Pew matched survey responses about regular use of 30 named news sources to a separate classification of Americans into four engagement groups (Mobilizers, Connectors, Spectators, Outsiders) and found that audiences of some online and print outlets are disproportionately composed of the most civic‑engaged Americans while TV audiences more closely mirror the general public. The finding is built from two representative American Trends Panel waves (n≈9,482 in March 2025 for news sources; n≈5,195 in Sept 2025 for engagement measures). — If different news brands systematically concentrate more civically active people, that changes how we interpret media effects, turnout forecasting, civic outreach and the polarization of civic life.