Local TV faces growing audience challenge as news habits move digital

A three-year Medill Local News Initiative study of Chicago-area news consumers found declining use of local television and radio, increased reliance on smartphones and widespread skepticism about the use of artificial intelligence in news production.

While the survey covered only the Chicago metropolitan area and should not be read as a national measurement, researchers described the region as a potential microcosm of changes affecting local journalism elsewhere in the United States.

The 2026 survey included 1,223 adults in the city, suburbs, exurbs and rural areas on the outskirts of the metro area.

The findings showed continued interest in local news even as audiences changed how they accessed it. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they followed local news daily, while 85% engaged with local news providers at least once a week. Those figures have remained steady since 2024.

At the same time, traditional broadcast platforms lost ground. The share of respondents who said they used television for local news often or all the time fell from 52% in 2024 to 47% in 2026. Radio use dropped from 34% to 25%.

The shift was especially pronounced among younger respondents. In 2026, 67% of respondents aged 60 and older said they often or always used television for local news, compared with 29% of respondents aged 18 to 29.

Smartphones continued to gain importance. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they often or always used smartphones to consume local news, up from 62% in 2024. Desktop and laptop use rose from 30% to 37% during the same period.

The study also found differences in how newspaper and television audiences followed news organizations across platforms. Among respondents who consumed local newspaper content at least monthly, 47% used a newspaper website, app or email product. Among those who consumed local television news at least monthly, 62% primarily watched on a television set while 15% used a station website, app or email product.

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The results suggest a challenge for local television organizations as audiences increasingly consume news on digital devices and platforms rather than through scheduled broadcasts. The Chicago findings do not establish that the same rates of change are occurring nationally, but they illustrate pressures facing broadcasters as local news consumption becomes more fragmented.

The survey also examined attitudes toward artificial intelligence in newsrooms. Respondents expressed broad discomfort with AI being used to write stories, create images, determine which stories should receive priority, personalize coverage or summarize news. The research found greater acceptance for limited uses such as checking spelling or grammar.

Payment for local news also declined. Fourteen percent of respondents said they had supported a local news organization through a subscription, donation or membership in 2026, down from 19% in 2024.

Younger audiences showed particularly strong use of nontraditional news sources. Forty-four percent of respondents ages 18 to 29 said they consumed local news daily from content creators. Overall daily local news consumption among that age group rose to 43% in 2026 from 32% in 2025.

Taken together, the findings showed that demand for local information remained substantial even as the platforms used to deliver it changed.

For broadcasters and other local news organizations, the study highlighted the growing importance of reaching audiences on smartphones, digital services and platforms beyond traditional linear distribution.