The way Americans get their news and information is changing. Newspaper newsrooms are approximately 30% smaller than in 2000, network news suffered its sixth consecutive year of declines in viewership, and for the first time in 12 years, the audience for cable news fell substantially. As these declines occur, web-based news reading and information gathering has significantly increased. According to 2011 data from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, roughly 78% of American adults are now using the internet, up from 14% in 1995. Of these, 76% say they use the internet to read the news, and 83% to search for health and medical-related information.
Despite overall increases in internet use, there are still those that lag behind in adoption, namely non-Hispanic blacks and those with lower income and educational attainment. While some reports suggest that this so-called ‘digital divide’ may be narrowing over time with the increasing adoption of mobile devices and access to broadband, others have suggested otherwise. Even if all groups were assured equal access to technology, the ability to derive equal benefit from its resources may still persist.
