Where we get our news and information has ramifications for our individual well-being and worldviews, our communities, and our democracy. Yet, where and how we each get our information is undergoing rapid and seemingly dramatic shifts. So in 2023, Pitt Cyber asked residents of the broader Pittsburgh region about where they receive news and information. We collaborated with the University Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh to survey over 1,300 residents.
The goal of our study and ongoing longitudinal research is to understand how our region’s information ecosystem is—and isn’t—working. Localized empirical data that reflects the perceptions and information habits of community members in the broader Pittsburgh region is especially valuable in identifying critical points of vulnerability and strength within the local information ecosystem, from digital social media to local newspapers to traditional face-to-face interactions.
The survey was a collaboration between Lara Putnam, Mike Colaresi, Scott Beach, Sara Goodkind, Jeff Shook, Bree Bang-Jensen, Beth Schwanke, and Rhaven Nelson. The survey analysis below was conducted by Lara Putnam and Elise Silva.
We thank the Steven Manners Award, The Hillman Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments for support of various aspects of this and related work.