Radio News hits new low

story by Inside Radio

While several all-news radio stations continue to attract sizable audiences, they’ve become the exception to the rule. Fewer people are turning to radio for news and information than at any point in the history of media usage analysis. That’s according to Pew’s report on Americans’ news consumption habits.

The study finds 56% of people report not listening to radio news on a regular basis. That's the highest number since the first study was conducted in 1990 when the same percentage said they turned to radio for news.

Over the past two decades the number has been steadily declining, slipping another seven percent over the last year. However the results are even more startling when compared to a 1965 Gallup study that found 42% of Americans didn't listen to any news programming on the radio the previous day.

Pew finds that two-thirds of Americans say they didn't hear any news programming the previous day --- the highest ever recorded.

Radio does its best among adults thirty to sixty-four year olds with just twenty-two percent of 18-24 year olds saying they heard news on the radio in the past 24 hours.

While consumption of radio news has declined, overall Americans are consuming more information-based content. "That's a self-inflicted wound," all-news WTOP-FM, Washington DC VP Jim Farley says.

While big market stations continue to offer news and bet big ratings -- WTOP-FM is the number one station in Washington DC metro -- it's become a rarity. "Drive around the country, and just try to find local radio news on a weekend," he says. "As an industry, we've left the playing field, despite some exceptions."