Internet surpasses newspaper as news source, or does it?

This just in, a survey of Americans for the first time reports that more Americans say they get more of their national and international news from the Internet than from newspapers. Television is still most cited but is in decline.

According to Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, in one year the frequency in which the Internet is named as the source of most news has jumped from 24 percent to 40 percent, while newspapers ticked up 1 point from 34 to 35 and television dipped from 74 to 70.

The survey also noted that young people, those aged 18 to 29, cited in equal numbers the Internet and television as a news source — 59 percent each. Newspapers scored an anemic 28 points, but up 5 points from September 2007.

As newspaper employees everywhere reach of their rusting Exacto knives to slit their wrists, I ask you to pause and note what Pew did not ask: Do you actually GET news? Do you actively seek it out and peruse it?

No, the surveyors asked: “How do you get most of your news about national and international issues?” (It would be interesting to ask where they get most of their local news.)

Knowing human nature, no one wants to present themself as a self-dedicated ignoramus. No one wants to admit they don’t really consume news at all. Most likely when asked this question their little minds start rationalizing: I watch a lot of TV and there’s news on TV sometimes or I’m on the Internet a lot and there is news there, therefore I get most of my news there. Osmosis, I presume.