The 1,500-person online survey, in which 1,162 responders were identified as consumers, found that the "future of trust" lies in traditional media forms -- mainstream newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. More than half (52%) anticipate relying on traditional sources for news that significantly affects their lives, while 13% will rely mostly on emerging media, such as citizen journalists, blogs and podcasts. More than a third, however, anticipate relying on both forms of media for news.
The survey found that network TV is the medium of choice for immediate news during a pandemic, with half anticipating tuning into it for updates and information. The next most popular choices were radio (42%), daily local newspapers, cable news or business networks (33%) and websites of print and broadcast media (25%). Only 6% of consumers would turn to emerging media for immediate news during such an event.