Final answer:
The statement about the shrinking news audience is partially true but requires context; traditional media audiences have declined, while digital news consumption trends suggest a shift in how people obtain their news.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decline in news audiences, particularly in traditional media like print newspapers and radio, began well before 2004. However, the statement that the news audience has been shrinking in recent years needs specification since it doesn't account for the rise in digital news consumption. Traditional news platforms such as print newspapers saw their peak in 1973 and witnessed a decline from 55% of Americans using them in 1991 to 29% in 2012, while radio news declined from 54% to 33% in the same period. In contrast, television news has maintained a steady audience. Nonetheless, given that two-thirds of Americans under 30 do not get their news from television, the trend suggests a shifting news consumption pattern potentially towards digital media outlets and platforms.