The consumption of News and information is rapidly shifting towards social media and video platforms. This trend is further diminishing the influence of ‘established and institutional journalism.’ This shift is supercharging a fragmented alternative media environment. It holds an array of independent citizen journalists, podcasters, YouTubers, and TikTokers. Populist politicians around the world are increasingly bypassing traditional journalism. They favor friendly partisan media, ‘personalities’, and ‘influencers.’ per a report from Rueters called the Digital News Report 2025.

Within New Mexico, organizations like 2nd Life Media Inc, the parent corporation for AlamogordoTownNews.org, New Mexico Conservative News, streaming KALHRadio.org and affiliated in West Texas and California can confirm that this research is spot on. CEO, Chris Edwards, said that the social media platform links drive “73% of readers and listeners to our news platforms.” Edwards continues, “The trend toward social media linkage and consumption of information and news has been ongoing. But, the pace jumped 100-fold with last year’s election. The swearing in of the Trump Administration also accelerated it. The administration’s actions, whether good, bad, or indifferent, influenced local leaders’ reactions to federal mandates. These changes or directives have made real-time social reporting essential for the information-consuming public. This has been a boon for our multi-pronged news platform in every market we are now serving.”

Key report findings…

Engagement with traditional media sources like TV, print, and news websites continues to fall. Meanwhile, dependence on social media, video platforms, and online aggregators grows. This is especially true in the United States. Polling coincided with the first few weeks of the new Trump administration. Social media news use was sharply up (+6 percentage points) but there was no ‘Trump bump’ for traditional sources. Engagement with traditional media sources continues to fall. Meanwhile, reliance on social media, video platforms, and online aggregators increases. This is especially true in the United States. Polling coincided with the first few weeks of the new Trump administration. Social media news use was sharply up (+6 percentage points) but there was no ‘Trump bump’ for traditional sources.

Audiences in most countries stay skeptical about the use of AI in the news. They are more comfortable with use cases where humans remain in the loop. Across countries they expect that AI will make the news cheaper to make (+29 net difference) and more up-to-date (+16) but less transparent (-8), less accurate (-8), and less trustworthy (-18).

Social media consumption has also surged (+6pp) amid an intense political climate in the United States.

Local TV news and local independent and online newspapers are among the most trusted sources included in the research. The BBC and long-established broadcast networks CBS and ABC also enjoy high trust levels. Still, all other brands experience a decline in trust levels. The highly polarized US market contributes to this. Additionally, social media outreach by independent and localized news sources expands this effect.

People often lament that local news shows the best of what news can and should be. However, it seems to have suffered more than any other part of the industry in recent years. Researchers have identified more than 3,000 local newspaper closures since 2005. This is a trend that shows no signs of slowing down (Metzger 2024).

Local news media used to have a monopoly over providing certain types of local information. Now, people have a range of different sources to choose from, including digital platforms. Local publishers that adapt to how individuals now consume news win clearly. The media landscape is changing quickly.

Consistent with the trends seen by 2nd Life Media Inc affiliates the research shows that people most frequently accessed information about general local news stories (e.g. about crimes, accidents) (49%), local activities/culture (e.g. things to do, reviews, walks, talks) (38%), and local information services (e.g. train/bus times, weather, movie times) (37%). Just one-third (32%) said they accessed information about local politics/government in the last week. This is often held up as the most important function of local news media. Information about local sports and clubs (20%), and local notices (e.g. deaths, etc ) (19%) were accessed by between one-fifth and one-quarter.

Local publishers like 2nd Life Media Inc. will continue to gain from their social engagement strategy. This strategy recognizes the centrality of platforms to the information ecosystem. It is more broadly based upon most recent trends. Building a direct connection with audiences is always challenging. It is even more difficult if there is a weak community connection between publishers and their audiences at the start. 2nd Life Media Inc has a voice that connects with a variety of constituencies. This positions it well for the future.