The media landscape in the United States continues to shift rapidly, with significant implications not only for journalism but also for education, politics, and civic engagement. A recent Reuters Institute Digital News Report reveals a dramatic change in how Americans—especially younger citizens—consume news. For the first time, more Americans reported getting their news from social and video networks than from traditional television and news websites or apps. In the post-inauguration week of January 2025, this milestone marked a sobering moment for legacy media and higher education institutions tied to conventional notions of media literacy and journalistic integrity.
One of the most visible signs of this transformation is the prominence of podcasters and online influencers such as Joe Rogan, whose reach now rivals—and often surpasses—that of network anchors and seasoned reporters. According to the report, one in five Americans encountered news or commentary from Rogan during the week after the presidential inauguration. Other influential figures included Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro, and Brian Tyler Cohen—names that draw significant loyalty from ideological audiences but also raise concerns about bias, misinformation, and the growing power of personality-driven content.
The influence of these creators extends beyond simple popularity. As Nic Newman of the Reuters Institute noted, they attract demographics that traditional media often fail to reach—particularly young men, conservative audiences, and those with low trust in what they see as a "liberal elite" mainstream press. This trend has a direct bearing on the mission and structure of American higher education, which has historically aligned itself with liberal democratic norms, academic rigor, and journalistic objectivity.
While university journalism programs and public radio stations have long been the training grounds for reporters, the new wave of content creators is largely self-taught, algorithm-amplified, and commercially successful—often without journalistic credentials or institutional backing. The implications for higher ed are profound: students may no longer see value in traditional journalism degrees or media studies if alternative paths offer greater visibility and profitability. This further challenges colleges and universities already struggling with enrollment declines, public distrust, and questions about ideological bias.
Another significant development is the role of artificial intelligence in news consumption. The report found that 15% of those under 25 now rely on AI chatbots and interfaces like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Meta AI for news weekly. While AI can provide quick and customized information, it also raises concerns about the decline of direct traffic to publisher websites, the risk of disinformation, and the erosion of context and investigative depth that traditional outlets once provided.
Meanwhile, over 70% of Americans expressed concern about their ability to discern truth from falsehood online. Despite—or perhaps because of—the abundance of content, trust in the news remains at a stagnant 40% across global markets. In the U.S., politicians are viewed as the leading source of false or misleading information, followed closely by online influencers. This environment has created a digital Wild West in which news, propaganda, entertainment, and advertising are increasingly indistinguishable.
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has also seen a resurgence as a news source, particularly among right-leaning users and young men. Twenty-three percent of Americans now use X for news, a jump of 8 percentage points from last year. In contrast, platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon have failed to gain similar traction.
The implications for higher education go beyond media studies departments. Civic literacy, critical thinking, and democratic engagement are all at risk when information is consumed without vetting or context. Universities and public educators must now grapple with how to teach digital literacy in an age where the loudest voices—and not the most factual—command attention.
At the same time, institutions must reflect on their own roles in this shift. The traditional media’s alignment with elite academic and political cultures has alienated large segments of the population, especially those who feel economically or culturally marginalized. The rise of Rogan and others is as much a symptom of that alienation as it is a media phenomenon.
For the Higher Education Inquirer, the message is clear: if truth still matters, then new strategies for reaching the public—especially younger generations—must be developed. That means embracing new technologies without surrendering to them, and fostering independent, investigative voices that hold power accountable, wherever it resides.
The old media model is collapsing. But the need for trustworthy information, critical analysis, and bold reporting has never been more urgent.
