# Journalists are the top source for foreign-policy news

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/journalism-in-foreign-affairs-information/
Published: 2026-10-23

> Featured topic in Politics.

Journalists are the main source of foreign-policy information for 41.2% of Americans. Among the 843 adults who ranked sources on defense spending, 53.5% put journalists' reporting first.

## Overview: Journalists lead on foreign policy

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted September 25 to 30, 2026, 41.2% rely mainly on journalists for information about foreign policy. Another 22.3% don't seek out that information.

Asked to rank five sources on defense spending, 53.5% of the 843 adults who answered put actual spending reported by journalists first.

## Journalists are far ahead

The president is the main source for 11.6%, and other federal officials such as the Secretary of State for 10.0%. Content creators on platforms like TikTok and Instagram draw 6.6%.

Friends and family account for 3.2%, local officials 2.8% and members of Congress 2.3%. Respondents named one main source.

## Reported spending ranks first

Among the 843 adults who ranked sources on defense spending, 53.5% put actual spending reported by journalists first and 11.5% put it last.

The ranking excludes 157 adults who did not answer. It measures which sources people consider important, not which they use or trust.

## Interest groups rank last

Messages from interest groups ranked first for just 6.7%, and fourth or fifth for 59.7%.

Last place alone accounts for 32.6%.

## Supporting evidence

### 41.2% of Americans rely mainly on journalists for information about foreign policy.

Question: To get information about foreign policy, I primarily rely on:

Topline:

- Journalists (in newspapers, on television news, on the radio, etc.): 41.2%
- I do not seek information about foreign policy: 22.3%
- The President: 11.6%
- Other federal government officials (the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, etc.): 10.0%
- Content creators (on TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, etc.): 6.6%

### Importance for learning about defense spending: actual spending reported by journalists (1 = most important; 5 = least important).

Question: - Actual government spending reported by journalists

Topline:

- 1: 53.5%
- 3: 14.4%
- 2: 12.5%
- 5: 11.5%
- 4: 8.0%

### Importance for learning about defense spending: messages from interest groups (1 = most important; 5 = least important).

Question: - Messages from interest groups

Topline:

- 5: 32.6%
- 4: 27.1%
- 3: 22.8%
- 2: 10.8%
- 1: 6.7%

## 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: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.4%
- Module: Technology, Security, and Global Affairs
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [To get information about foreign policy, I primarily rely on:](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-129): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [- Actual government spending reported by journalists](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-128): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [- Messages from interest groups](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-128): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-129](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-129)