American Mistrust Of Media Surges

American’s do not trust the media, and this mistrust hit an all-time high in 2010, the fourth year the figure has gone higher. Fifty-seven percent of US adults have little or no trust in the mass media’s ability “to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly,” according to a new Gallup poll

In what may come as a surprise, nearly half of Americans (48%) say the media are too liberal, tying the high-end of the narrow 44% to 48% range recorded over the past decade. One-third says the media are just about right while 15% say they are too conservative.

Twenty-six percent of Democrats believe the news is too conservative against only 6% of Republicans. Most analysts believe that the conservative point of view dominates the press, particularly on television where Fox News, considered the most “right-wing” of the networks, holds a large lead in viewership.

The data probably makes the point that the conservative press has become more mainstream in the eyes of many Americans. That is at least one interpretation of why those polled think the press has moved too far to the left. Essentially, what was once centrist is no longer so. The Tea Party movement is a sign that Americans believe the nation has become “left leaning.” Attitudes about the press many mirror that.

Attitudes toward the press also differ a great deal based on income. Adults who make more than $75,000 are more likely to be skeptical of major media than those who make less money and are less educated. Gallup does not explain that, but affluent adults are likely to have access to more information which enables them to compare the mainstream media against other sources of news.

Most surveys show that Americans do not trust their elected officials, banks, or big business. Add the press to that, and there is almost nothing left to trust.

“Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Sept. 13-16, 2010, with a random sample of 1,019 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.”

Douglas A. McIntyre