A news outlet is a source of news, often a newspaper, magazine or website that publishes or broadcasts current events and news items to the public. News outlets may be part of larger, reputable media organizations like national broadcasting networks, international press agencies or global newspapers of record. They also may be independently owned and operated.
While journalists strive to be impartial, it is almost impossible for them to avoid biases in the selection of stories they cover and in how they present those stories. When news outlets skew toward one side of an issue, it can distort the overall narrative and lead to misinformation. The spread of inaccurate and deliberately misleading information is a major concern because it can have lasting social and political damage.
The way people access news varies widely, with some turning to traditional print and radio media while others turn mostly to digital platforms. The majority of Americans say they get news at least sometimes on their smartphones, tablets and computers. They are most likely to use news websites or apps, followed by social media and search engines. Smaller shares report getting news regularly from podcasts, email newsletters and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.
Local community news publications are particularly vulnerable, with the Coronavirus pandemic gutting their business models and putting them in dire financial straights. The New York Times compiled a database of local news publishers for World Press Freedom Day and urged its readers to support them with subscriptions and donations. The database was incomplete, however, failing to include local community papers in the Bronx and Queens, boroughs with large communities of people who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and poorly served by mainstream news organizations.