The ‘Internet & American Life’ project of the Pew Charitable Trust has revealed that the use of Internet as a source of news has surpassed the conventional news source- the newspapers – for the first time in December. With 24 percent of the people surveyed in September 2007 saying that they depended on the Internet as their chief source of news, the number has lately gone up to 40 percent!

Though TV still continues to be named the main source for international and national news - it being the choice of 70 percent of people questioned - it has, nevertheless, fallen below lower than the earlier lowest 74 percent in 2004.

In the survey, in which 1,489 adults were questioned from December 3-7, while the questions were largely involved with perceptions of the main news stories of the year, there were also quite a few questions focused on the ‘source’ of news of the participants.

The reason for the recent growth in favor of Internet happens to be the coverage of the presidential campaign – most of which was sustained by social networks. Regarding the top news stories of the year, Pew found the order to be thus: the economy, the rising gas prices, and the Wall Street bailout.

Despite all the findings of the study, even though some interesting stories are within the free and easy access of the Internet community, the resources for in-depth investigations still are a privilege that rests with experienced news staff!