Trust in media is at record lows

[probinson]

A recent Gallup survey shows that only 32% of people in the US have a "great deal/fair amount" of trust in mass media while 39% say they have "none at all". A combined 68% (!) of people regardless of political persuasion have "not very much" trust or "none at all".

Democrats are far more likely to trust the media than both Republicans and Independents combined.

The latest poll, conducted Sept. 1-23, marks just the second time, along with last year, that the share of Americans who have no confidence at all in the media has surpassed the percentage with a great deal or fair amount of trust.​

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Democrats’ confidence in the mass media has consistently outpaced Republicans’, but the latest gap of 47 points is the narrowest since 2016. Democrats’ trust in the media has fallen 12 points over the past year, to 58%, and compares with 11% among Republicans and 29% among independents.​

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Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low

Americans' trust in the mass media's reporting matches its lowest point in Gallup's trend, largely because of Democrats' decreased trust.

news.gallup.com

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I find this interesting. Why do you think Democrats are far more likely to trust mass media than any other political group?

 

[Vambram]

A recent Gallup survey shows that only 32% of people in the US have a "great deal/fair amount" of trust in mass media while 39% say they have "none at all". A combined 68% (!) of people regardless of political persuasion have "not very much" trust or "none at all".

View attachment 356054​

Democrats are far more likely to trust the media than both Republicans and Independents combined.

View attachment 356053​

The latest poll, conducted Sept. 1-23, marks just the second time, along with last year, that the share of Americans who have no confidence at all in the media has surpassed the percentage with a great deal or fair amount of trust.​

​

...​

​

Democrats’ confidence in the mass media has consistently outpaced Republicans’, but the latest gap of 47 points is the narrowest since 2016. Democrats’ trust in the media has fallen 12 points over the past year, to 58%, and compares with 11% among Republicans and 29% among independents.​

​

Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low

Americans' trust in the mass media's reporting matches its lowest point in Gallup's trend, largely because of Democrats' decreased trust.

news.gallup.com

​

​

I find this interesting. Why do you think Democrats are far more likely to trust mass media than any other political group?

You ask a good question here at the end of your post. I have a couple of opinions in answer. But, I want to read what others respond before I put forth an opinion which I have little doubt that the liberals would disagree.

 

[probinson]

Well, since no one has replied, I will offer my opinion for why I believe Democrats are far more likely to trust mass media.

People are far more likely to trust things that they agree with and confirm their biases. This is why questionable right-wing reporting proliferates throughout conservative circles regardless of the veracity of the reporting. People want to believe something is true, and then when some authoritative source reports it to them, they simply take that as confirmation.

Much of mass media is quite favorable towards Democrats. Therefore, it stands to reason that Democrats will be more likely to trust what mass media repots, since it affirms what they already believe is true.

For the rest of the political spectrum, there is good reason why trust is at historical lows. Once upon a time, the media was objective and held those in power accountable. But now, media's role seems to be primarily to push whatever narrative is popular at the moment.

 

[Pommer]

Once upon a time, the media was objective and held those in power accountable.

This was back in the halcyon time during the post-war (WWII) period when major broadcasting outlets (networks, mainly) brought people news as a “service”; informing people about the facts-on-the ground and let public opinion form from there.

When news became the “product”, then people were free to gravitate towards news outlets that catered to their political preferences and facts became secondary to these preferences.

As always, there’s a lot of caveat emptor.

 

[doubtingmerle]

There have been a lot of people saying that everybody has a bias, so all sources are therefore equally fabrications. And the truth is midway between your favorite right-wing fabricated news source and the mainstream media. The claim is that the media is equally bad.

But actually, traditional media has always had the stated bias to favor the truth. They strive to be accurate and represent the truth. Are they perfect? No, of course not. And a political bias can shade a story. But still, in general, they seek for the truth and do a fairly good job of portraying it. That is what needs to be seen more clearly: there is an emphasis on truth in the mainstream media that is often missing from opinionated sources.

 

[probinson]

But actually, traditional media has always had the stated bias to favor the truth. They strive to be accurate and represent the truth.

This seems to be a minority opinion.

As the survey in the OP shows, 68% of people have very little or no trust in mass media. Put me in the "very little" category, just this side of "none at all".

 

[rambot]

A recent Gallup survey shows that only 32% of people in the US have a "great deal/fair amount" of trust in mass media while 39% say they have "none at all". A combined 68% (!) of people regardless of political persuasion have "not very much" trust or "none at all".

View attachment 356054​

Democrats are far more likely to trust the media than both Republicans and Independents combined.

View attachment 356053​

The latest poll, conducted Sept. 1-23, marks just the second time, along with last year, that the share of Americans who have no confidence at all in the media has surpassed the percentage with a great deal or fair amount of trust.​

​

...​

​

Democrats’ confidence in the mass media has consistently outpaced Republicans’, but the latest gap of 47 points is the narrowest since 2016. Democrats’ trust in the media has fallen 12 points over the past year, to 58%, and compares with 11% among Republicans and 29% among independents.​

​

Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low

Americans' trust in the mass media's reporting matches its lowest point in Gallup's trend, largely because of Democrats' decreased trust.

news.gallup.com

​

​

I find this interesting. Why do you think Democrats are far more likely to trust mass media than any other political group?

I think that first and foremost, I would want a VERY real breakdown of what is mean by "mass media".
Are Fox and AON considered mass, or just the legacy media?

I think each camp has trust in their people and 0 trust in others.

 

[RoBo1988]

Elizabeth Nickson is doing great reporting on Substack. Chris Rufo, at City Journal, Miranda Devine, at the New York Post. Julie Kelly would be a Pulitzer winner, except for the fact that the left hates her reporting.

 

[rambot]

Elizabeth Nickson is doing great reporting on Substack. Chris Rufo, at City Journal, Miranda Devine, at the New York Post. Julie Kelly would be a Pulitzer winner, except for the fact that the left hates her reporting.

Why the persecution complex? Maybe her writing just isn't good enough. There's lots of writers that don't get Pulitzer Prizes.

 

[RoBo1988]

Why the persecution complex? Maybe her writing just isn't good enough. There's lots of writers that don't get Pulitzer Prizes.

There was a WAPO writer a while back, who wrote a complete fabrication, and won a Pulitzer.

As long as it fits the narrative.

Janet Cooke - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[KCfromNC]

Well, since no one has replied, I will offer my opinion for why I believe Democrats are far more likely to trust mass media.

Could also be that the facts tend to align with the views held by Democrats.

 

[probinson]

I think that first and foremost, I would want a VERY real breakdown of what is mean by "mass media".
Are Fox and AON considered mass, or just the legacy media?

I think we can probably safely assume that if Fox and AON were included, Democrats wouldn't have a a greater trust than Republicans.

I think each camp has trust in their people and 0 trust in others.

That's probably a fair assessment. I usually begin reading any report with a healthy dose of skepticism. I'm pleasantly surprised when the reporting is actually objective and unbiased, but sadly, those are the exception and not the rule.

 

[probinson]

Could also be that the facts tend to align with the views held by Democrats.

I suppose that's one theory. A rather arrogant theory IMHO, but a theory nonetheless.

 

[probinson]

Elizabeth Nickson is doing great reporting on Substack. Chris Rufo, at City Journal, Miranda Devine, at the New York Post. Julie Kelly would be a Pulitzer winner, except for the fact that the left hates her reporting.

Substack is, like most things, a mixed bag. However, there is some excellent reporting there. The legacy media has had to (reluctantly) reference Substack reporting on more than one occasion since they've largely abdicated their journalistic responsibilities in favor of being cheerleaders for whatever narrative needs amplifying at the moment.

 

[Larniavc]

Much of mass media is quite favorable towards Democrats.

Could this be because the GOP and MAGA in particularly are the cause? You do say that it did not used to be this way and clearly the current GOP is not the same as it was pre Mr Trump.

 

[probinson]

Could this be because the GOP and MAGA in particularly are the cause? You do say that it did not used to be this way and clearly the current GOP is not the same as it was pre Mr Trump.

In an ideal world, the media would not be "favorable" toward anyone.

 

[rambot]

I think we can probably safely assume that if Fox and AON were included, Democrats wouldn't have a a greater trust than Republicans.

I know, yet Fox has the highest viewership of all the news organizations. In any conversation about news media, I can't figure out if they'd be included when they certainly should.

 

[probinson]

I know, yet Fox has the highest viewership of all the news organizations. In any conversation about news media, I can't figure out if they'd be included when they certainly should.

The question asked is this:

In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media -- such as newspapers, T.V. and radio -- when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately, and fairly -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?​

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"Mass media" is not defined, and likely means different things to different people. Still, it's telling that 68% of people surveyed have either litter or no trust in the "mass media".

 

[rambot]

Could also be that the facts tend to align with the views held by Democrats.

Or perhaps that Democrats are more able to accept news that does not fit their views.

 

[probinson]

Or perhaps that Democrats are more able to accept news that does not fit their views.

Interesting hypothesis. I wonder if any Democrats would be willing to post articles from the "mass media" that they disagree with. It would be interesting to see from the Democratic perspective what kind of reporting they believe is accurate but disagree with.