Web overtakes newspapers as source of news in survey

For the first time, more Americans are getting their news online than from traditional ink and paper. This, according to the Pew Research Center, which found that the number of consumers using the web as their main news source surged from 24% to 40% in a year, overtaking the 35% who rely on newspapers. Television slipped from 74% to 70%.

Younger people are migrating towards the web quickly. Among the under-29s, the web leaped from 34% to 59% as the leading source of news, tying with television, with newspapers lagging at 28%.

Economic events have sparked interest among readers. The Pew Center also found that the dip towards a recession was the most popular story of the year, with 70% following it "very closely". The presidential election was relegated to fourth.