Final answer:
There has been a significant shift towards digital news consumption, especially among younger Americans, with a decline in print and radio news readership and uncertain future for television news. The Pew Research Center data reflects this trend, as digital news consumption increased from 24% in 2004 to 39% in 2012.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to data from the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, there has been a significant increase in the number of Americans, especially among younger demographics, who obtain their news from digital sources. As smartphone and tablet ownership has become widespread, these devices are increasingly used to access news content. From 2004 to 2012, the percentage of Americans getting their news from digital platforms rose from 24% to 39%.
This surge in digital news consumption has coincided with a decline in traditional media outlets. Print news media has seen a continuous drop in readership, with newspaper circulation peaking in 1973 and dwindling since then. Based on Pew Research data, in 1991, 55% of Americans cited getting news from print sources, which dropped to 29% by 2012. Similarly, radio news consumption decreased from 54% in 1991 to 33% in 2012. While television news has managed to maintain its audience to some extent, its future dominance is questionable considering that two-thirds of Americans under 30 report not relying on television for news at all.
These trends suggest that as digital news grows more prevalent, traditional news mediums like print, radio, and television may face ongoing declines. The preferences of younger audiences indicate a significant shift towards digital platforms, potentially reshaping the landscape of news consumption.