A recent study by the Civic Information Needs Census (CINC) finds that Americans have more difficulty accessing news about their local neighborhoods than they do national or international information. The research, conducted in partnership with Embold Research and based on a survey of 1,765 registered voters nationwide, indicates that 44% of respondents struggle to get information about their immediate communities. In comparison, only 26% report challenges with national news and 30% with international news—a trend CINC describes as the “Proximity Paradox.”
The survey also highlights a significant gap between the importance people place on local topics—such as politics and transportation—and their satisfaction with available information. This gap ranges from 21 to 46 percentage points depending on the topic.
“These information needs transcend politics, demographics, and geography,” CINC stated in its review of the findings. “Trump and Harris 2024 voters alike report significant unmet local information needs.”
The new national results are consistent with previous CINC surveys conducted in Chicago, New York City, and a separate earlier national survey. These prior studies also revealed unmet demand for local information services. More details can be found at infocensus.org.
To address these issues, CINC is expanding its research efforts through partnerships with organizations across the country. At least five additional local communities will participate in new surveys during 2026. Partner organizations include American Journalism Project; Chicago Public Media in Illinois; Cityside Journalism Initiative in Marin County, California; Deep South Today covering Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi; and San José Spotlight in Santa Clara County, California. Data collected from these efforts will be made publicly available at infocensus.org.
CINC is also offering catalytic funding to support other organizations interested in conducting similar surveys within their communities. Priority will go to groups committed to using this data to improve their operations and share findings locally while supporting future research initiatives. Additional details are provided at infocensus.org/partner.
The Caswell Jin Foundation funds both the overall CINC initiative and its catalytic funding program. The American Journalism Project, Chicago Public Media, Cityside Journalism Initiative, along with Chandran and Mallika Sankaran provide partial support for specific local projects.
For further inquiries or more information about participation opportunities or findings from ongoing studies, contact can be made via contact@infocensus.org.
