Internet surpasses newspapers as main news source

2008 will be seen as a landmark year in global communications in the textbooks of 2100 – it was the year that the internet finally surpassed what was once considered an unassailable bastion of main media, newspapers, as the leading source of national and international news in America. The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues. This year, for the first time in a Pew survey, more people said they relied mostly on the internet for news than those that cited newspapers (35%). Television retained top spot with 70% but it’s now clear that it’s when, rather than if, the internet will become the key news communications medium.

The growing importance of the internet in today's society is further reflected in the recently released poll entitled "Internet Reliance in Today's Economy." Conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by Intel, the poll found most adults find internet access essential.

The Intel release follows:

Most U.S. adults find Internet access essential to daily life in today's economic climate, with some choosing it as a must-have over watching TV and having sex, according to the recent "Internet Reliance in Today's Economy" survey conducted by Harris Interactive* and sponsored by Intel Corporation.

The survey revealed that 65 percent of adults feel they cannot live without Internet access1, and even more – 71 percent – responded that it is important or very important to have Internet-enabled devices, such as laptops, netbooks and mobile Internet devices (MIDs) that can provide them with real-time updates on important issues including the state of the economy. Most U.S. adults also identify the Internet as a key tool in today's economy for managing personal finances, finding discounts and the best deals while shopping online, and many rated access to the Internet as indispensable compared to other discretionary items, such as dining out, shopping for clothes and gym memberships.

Key Survey Findings

Would You Choose the Internet Over Sex?: According to the survey, nearly half of women (46 percent) and 30 percent of men would rather go without sex for 2 weeks than give up Internet access for the same amount of time. For women aged 18-34 it was 49 percent and for women aged 35-44 it was 52 percent. For men aged 18-34, it was 39 percent.

Internet Access Essential in Today's Economic Climate: Ninety-five percent of adults feel that it is very important, important or somewhat important for people to have devices that allow them to access the Internet. A majority (82 percent) agree that Internet-enabled devices help them stay up to date real-time on the state of the economy. Eighty-seven percent say that Internet access has helped them save money. Of these adults:

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