This report by AAIAVote, AAPIData and AAJA measures the evolution of news and information consumption by AAPIs and other communities of color. 

While younger respondents are much more likely than their older counterparts to get news from social media, the report found they still trust news organizations, family and friends, and experts far more than influencers or celebrities. And they view news as crucial to democracy.

Part of the ongoing AAPI Media & Democracy Survey Series, the report draws on Amplify AAPI at NORC at the University of Chicago, the only public opinion panel of its kind that is multilingual and able to generate estimates of six Asian American subgroups as well as Pacific Islanders. 

Based on the first two of three rounds of surveys, the findings shed light on the challenges and opportunities of informing different communities in our increasingly diverse democracy, ahead of what is likely to be a closely contested election. They include:

    • News still matters, including TV news, with two out of three respondents saying media is very or critically important to democracy. 
    • News media favorability is low, especially among younger respondents. And a majority believe social media and cable news are making democracy worse.
    • Ethnic/community media still plays an important role in how respondents choose to stay informed.
    • The younger the respondents, the more they value diversity in news coverage, staffing, and viewpoints.

There were more similarities than differences in the responses among communities of color, with all groups reporting that political parties, family and friends, and mainstream media are their top sources of news and information that could guide voting. Black respondents also put community groups among their main sources of voting news and information.

For news and information about life and social issues, AAPIs put the most trust in friends and family, professors and academic experts, and journalists from their community – and the least in sports personalities, celebrities, social media influencers and shock jock-type provocateurs. All racial groups put the same four categories at the bottom.

Younger respondents have the lowest levels of trust in news media, but they haven’t shifted that trust to social media influencers, meaning news organizations still have an important role to play. Trust in a news outlet is boosted by fact-checking and reputation for all groups, and especially for AAPIs.

The findings underline the importance of a diverse press corps to inform citizens in a multicultural democracy.