Press Play to Stay Informed: The Rise of News Podcasts
Podcasts have fundamentally transformed the way many people engage with daily news, reshaping habits that once revolved around morning newspapers, broadcast TV, and radio. What started as a niche medium for storytelling and discussion has matured into a mainstream news source with measurable influence on public information diets. By 2025, more than half of U.S. adults (54%) reported listening to a podcast in the past year, a steady rise from about 49% just a few years earlier, signaling broad adoption across age groups, especially younger listeners.
Crucially, podcasts are no longer just for entertainment; a growing share of listeners are tuning in for news and current events. Around 32% of U.S. adults now say they get news from podcasts at least sometimes, including 10% who do so often, up from 22% in 2020. This trend has emerged alongside podcasts’ reputation for depth: unlike brief news alerts or headlines, many news podcasts offer explained analysis, narrative storytelling, and expert interviews, giving listeners context they may not find elsewhere.
The medium’s growth isn’t limited to the United States. Globally, hundreds of millions of people consume podcasts regularly, and projections suggest the audience will continue expanding in the coming years as technology and accessibility improve. Platforms like YouTube have become major venues for podcast consumption too, with over 1 billion people watching podcasts on the platform each month, underscoring how visual formats and audio overlap in evolving media habits.
Podcasts’ role in news isn’t just about reach but about trust and engagement. Studies show that when listeners hear news on podcasts, they tend to find it accurate and informative, often valuing the nuanced discussions and diverse perspectives offered by hosts and guests. This contrasts with other digital sources like social media, where trust in accuracy tends to be lower.
Another trend worth noting is the frequency of news podcasts: daily and near-daily releases have proliferated, with many major media organizations launching their own audio news shows to meet audience demand. These programs deliver concise summaries and in-depth reporting directly to listeners’ devices each morning, allowing consumers to stay informed during commutes or workouts without having to read articles or watch TV.
What all of this points to is a profound shift in how people integrate news into their lives. Podcasts meet modern listeners where they are; mobile, multitasking, and craving depth over headlines, which has helped the format blend entertainment, education, and information into a compelling daily ritual. As podcast production continues to grow and platforms innovate, the role of podcasts in daily news is set to deepen even further, influencing both public discourse and personal routines.