15% of Americans paid directly for local news in the past year
Core finding
Just 15% of Americans say they directly paid or gave money to a local news source in the past year, whether by subscribing, donating, or becoming a member, according to a September 2025 Verasight survey.
The remaining 85% say they gave nothing to local outlets over that span.
Topline distribution
15% of Americans paid directly for local news in the past year.
In the past year, have you directly paid or given money to any local news sources by subscribing, donating, or becoming a member?
n = 1,000 · Sep 22–29, 2025 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 22–29, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025
In the past year, have you directly paid or given money to any local news sources by subscribing, donating, or becoming a member?
Cite this question
Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119, fielded September 22-29, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.