The FINANCIAL — Most Americans still get their weather news from local television despite the variety of news sources available these days, and fewer adults believe the media overhypes the weather.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Americans watch local TV news for most of their weather information, while 19% tune in to cable TV. Twenty percent (20%) rely on the Internet for most of their weather news. Five percent (5%) listen to the radio, and two percent (2%) get the bulk of their weather news from newspapers.
Regardless of the source of their information, 51% of Adults believe the media makes the weather sound worse than it really is. Thirty-seven percent (37%) disagree. Another 12% are undecided.
In January of this year, Americans were more skeptical: 60% said the media overhypes the weather.
Weather isn’t the first issue Americans think the media blows up. In February 2009, 54% of voters said the news media makes global warming appear worse than it really is. In October of last year, 66% said the media was making the swine flu problem sound worse than it actually was.
Winter is barely a week old, and more than one-third of Americans already say the season is worse than it has been in recent years.
Although the majority of adults in all age groups are more likely to get their weather news from local television news reports, the Internet is the number two choice for those ages 18 to 29.
Men are more likely than women to say the media is overhyping the weather. Adults under the age of 30 are more likely to believe this than their elders.
Back in June, 66% of voters said they were at least somewhat angry at the media.
Polling earlier this month found that most voters continue to be concerned about global warming but still are more inclined to think it's caused by planetary trends rather than human activity.
One-in-five voters now regularly get news and political updates on their phones or other portable electronic devices.
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