Aftermath: CNN Makes “Greatest Gains” In Viewership, Pew Says

“As occurred after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and during the start of the war in Iraq, the proportion of Americans who cited cable news channels as a main source of news grew dramatically” in the wake of Katrina, a new Pew study says.

31% of respondents said CNN was their “main source” of news about the impact of Katrina. 22% said FNC was their main source. 19% said local news, 14% said ABC, 12% said NBC, 9% said MSNBC, 8% said CBS, and 3% said CNBC.

“CNN made the greatest gains,” Pew says. “In June, 18% of Americans cited CNN as a source of most of their news about national and international issues. Following Katrina, 31% say CNN is a main source of news. The Fox News Channel and MSNBC also saw sizable, though smaller, audience gains from Katrina.”