Americans' Views on the Media

Transcription

1 Americans' Views on the Media Ipsos Poll on Sentiment Towards American Media Washington, DC, August 7, Even if they are not fake news or the enemy of the people, it is clear that the reputation of the news media is under siege. According to the General Social Survey, the number of Americans with some or a great deal of trust in the press has dropped 30 percentage points since the late 1970s. Ipsos recently conducted a survey with the American public to better understand how Americans currently view the press and public support for efforts to restrict journalism. While we found that the large majority of Americans support the concept of the 1 st Amendment, there are worrying signs that freedom of the press might be conditional to many people. First off, the good news. The large majority of Americans, 85%, agree that the Freedom of the press is essential for American democracy. Additionally, two-thirds (68%) say that reporters should be protected from pressure from government or big business interests. Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans agree with these two statements signaling deep support for the concept of freedom of the press. Some of the limits of public support for freedom of the press are made stark with a quarter of Americans (26%) saying they agree the president should have the authority to close news outlets engaged in bad behavior, including a plurality of Republicans (43%). Likewise, most Americans (72%) think it should be easier to sue reporters who knowingly publish false information. Unanimity starts to break down as we more grounded questions. While a plurality 46% -- agree most news outlets try their best to produce honest reporting, there are very stark splits by the partisan identification of the respondent with most Democrats (68%) generally believing in the good intent of journalists, but comparatively few Republicans (29%). And when we ask questions with specific partisan cues, the political split is very wide. For instance, 80% of Republicans but only 23% of Democrats agree that most news outlets have a liberal bias, and 79% of Republicans but only 11% of Democrats agree, the mainstream media treats President Trump unfairly. Returning to President Trump s views on the press, almost a third of the American people (29%) agree with the idea that the news media is the enemy of the American people, including a plurality of Republicans (48%). A final statistic is somewhat reassuring, only 13% of Americans agree that President Trump should close down mainstream news outlets, like CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times. Here less than a quarter of Republicans (23%) agree along with fewer than one in ten Democrats (8%). 1

2 1. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the following? Total favorable Total (N = 1,003) Republican (N = 363) Democrat (N = 323) Independent (N = 207) The Weather Channel 85% 88% 90% 82% PBS NBC News ABC News BBC CBS News USA Today Wall Street Journal ESPN New York Times Barack Obama CNN Washington Post Associated Press CNBC Fox News MSNBC NPR Huffington Post News talk radio Donald Trump CSPAN Reuters News BuzzFeed News Daily Beast Breitbart

3 Total unfavorable a. New York Times Donald Trump 52% 14% 86% 59% Fox News Barack Obama CNN MSNBC Breitbart CNBC Huffington Post Washington Post New York Times BuzzFeed News News talk radio NBC News CSPAN ABC News Associated Press CBS News Daily Beast ESPN USA Today NPR Wall Street Journal Reuters News BBC PBS The Weather Channel Very favorable 18% 9% 33% 15% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable * 14 Don t know Favorable (net) 56% 33% 83% 55% Unfavorable (net)

4 b. Washington Post Very favorable 15% 6% 29% 12% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know c. Wall Street Journal d. USA Today Favorable (net) 51% 31% 78% 52% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 16% 13% 22% 13% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 60% 54% 75% 57% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 11% 8% 17% 6% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 61% 53% 76% 60% Unfavorable (net)

5 e. CNN f. MSNBC g. Fox News Very favorable 16% 9% 26% 15% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 54% 34% 81% 55% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 12% 6% 24% 8% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 48% 32% 73% 49% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 16% 30% 6% 12% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 49% 79% 23% 42% Unfavorable (net)

6 h. CNBC i. ESPN Very favorable 10% 7% 15% 10% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 49% 36% 70% 47% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 19% 18% 21% 16% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know j. The Weather Channel Favorable (net) 60% 59% 67% 53% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 33% 33% 37% 29% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 85% 88% 90% 82% Unfavorable (net)

7 k. ABC News l. CBS News m. NBC News Very favorable 17% 12% 24% 19% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable 8 17 * 5 Don t know Favorable (net) 64% 48% 84% 62% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 15% 11% 22% 13% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 63% 49% 85% 62% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 17% 10% 27% 15% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 64% 46% 87% 60% Unfavorable (net)

8 n. CSPAN o. NPR p. PBS Very favorable 8% 6% 11% 9% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 42% 36% 55% 44% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 18% 7% 34% 19% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 46% 38% 63% 43% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 35% 24% 51% 37% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 79% 73% 90% 76% Unfavorable (net)

9 q. News talk radio r. Daily Beast Very favorable 8% 9% 10% 9% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 44% 51% 46% 43% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 5% 4% 8% 3% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know s. Huffington Post Favorable (net) 21% 17% 30% 22% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 10% 5% 19% 7% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 46% 31% 68% 43% Unfavorable (net)

10 t. Breitbart Very favorable 5% 10% 3% 3% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know u. BuzzFeed News Favorable (net) 19% 32% 11% 16% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 7% 5% 11% 4% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know v. Associated Press Favorable (net) 40% 32% 53% 38% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 14% 6% 26% 14% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 51% 38% 74% 49% Unfavorable (net)

11 w. Reuters News x. BBC y. Donald Trump Very favorable 9% 4% 16% 10% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 41% 36% 54% 42% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 21% 13% 35% 18% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 63% 57% 79% 63% Unfavorable (net) Very favorable 20% 47% 3% 11% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 42% 82% 12% 35% Unfavorable (net)

12 z. Barack Obama Very favorable 31% 8% 63% 30% Somewhat favorable Lean towards favorable Lean towards unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Don t know Favorable (net) 55% 21% 91% 57% Unfavorable (net) Which of the following do you generally consider to be trustworthy or untrustworthy? Total trustworthy The Weather Channel 91% 91% 95% 91% PBS BBC ESPN Wall Street Journal CBS News USA Today ABC News NBC News New York Times Washington Post CNBC Associated Press CNN CSPAN Barack Obama MSNBC NPR News talk radio Huffington Post Reuters News Fox News BuzzFeed News Donald Trump Daily Beast Breitbart

13 Total untrustworthy a. New York Times b. Washington Post Breitbart 74% 64% 81% 76% Daily Beast Donald Trump BuzzFeed News Fox News Huffington Post Reuters News News talk radio NPR MSNBC Barack Obama CNN CSPAN Washington Post CNBC Associated Press New York Times USA Today ABC News NBC News CBS News Wall Street Journal ESPN BBC PBS The Weather Channel Trustworthy 63% 38% 90% 63% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 60% 38% 87% 59% Untrustworthy

14 c. Wall Street Journal d. USA Today e. CNN f. MSNBC g. Fox News h. CNBC i. ESPN Trustworthy 70% 59% 86% 70% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 68% 54% 85% 66% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 59% 34% 88% 55% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 56% 35% 83% 54% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 50% 77% 25% 40% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 60% 43% 85% 55% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 73% 66% 86% 68% Untrustworthy

15 j. The Weather Channel k. ABC News l. CBS News m. NBC News n. CSPAN o. NPR p. PBS Trustworthy 91% 91% 95% 91% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 68% 47% 91% 70% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 69% 49% 93% 67% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 68% 47% 89% 68% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 59% 47% 79% 60% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 54% 43% 74% 52% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 79% 70% 93% 75% Untrustworthy

16 q. News talk radio r. Daily Beast s. Huffington Post t. Breitbart u. BuzzFeed News v. Associated Press w. Reuters News Trustworthy 53% 55% 56% 53% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 30% 24% 42% 27% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 51% 33% 76% 48% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 26% 36% 19% 24% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 43% 35% 58% 35% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 60% 41% 84% 60% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 51% 42% 68% 51% Untrustworthy

17 x. BBC y. Donald Trump z. Barack Obama Trustworthy 74% 63% 91% 71% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 40% 77% 11% 33% Untrustworthy Trustworthy 57% 22% 93% 59% Untrustworthy Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Total agree Freedom of the press is essential for American democracy. Reporters should be protected from pressure from government or big business interests. Most news outlets try their best to produce honest reporting. Freedom of speech is one of the values that makes America great. It should be easier to sue reporters who knowingly publish false information. The president should have the authority to close news outlets engaged in bad behavior. 85% % % % % %

18 Total disagree Freedom of the press is essential for American democracy. Reporters should be protected from pressure from government or big business interests. Most news outlets try their best to produce honest reporting. Freedom of speech is one of the values that makes America great. It should be easier to sue reporters who knowingly publish false information. The president should have the authority to close news outlets engaged in bad behavior. 4% % % % % % a. Freedom of the press is essential for American democracy. Strongly agree 57% 50% 74% 59% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree 2 3 * 2 Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 85% 83% 93% 84% Disagree (net) b. Reporters should be protected from pressure from government or big business interests. Strongly agree 41% 22% 60% 48% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 68% 57% 85% 69% Disagree (net)

19 c. Most news outlets try their best to produce honest reporting. Strongly agree 19% 8% 35% 18% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 46% 29% 68% 46% Disagree (net) d. Freedom of speech is one of the values that makes America great. Strongly agree 65% 65% 74% 62% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 88% 89% 93% 88% Disagree (net) e. It should be easier to sue reporters who knowingly publish false information. Strongly agree 40% 50% 31% 39% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 72% 85% 63% 67% Disagree (net)

20 f. The president should have the authority to close news outlets engaged in bad behavior. Strongly agree 13% 23% 7% 7% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 26% 43% 12% 21% Disagree (net) When you hear the term mainstream media, what is the first word that comes to your mind? [Awaiting open-end coding] 5. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Total agree News and reporters are necessary to keep the Trump administration honest. 57% Reporters should be shielded from prosecution by the Trump administration. 47% Most news outlets have a liberal bias. 48% The mainstream media treats President Trump unfairly. 43% The news media is the enemy of the American people. 29% President Trump should close down mainstream news outlets, like CNN, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. 13%

21 Total disagree News and reporters are necessary to keep the Trump administration honest. 20% Reporters should be shielded from prosecution by the Trump administration. 25% Most news outlets have a liberal bias. 19% The mainstream media treats President Trump unfairly. 39% The news media is the enemy of the American people. 48% President Trump should close down mainstream news outlets, like CNN, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. 66% a. News and reporters are necessary to keep the Trump administration honest. Strongly agree 36% 13% 65% 39% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 9 17 * 10 Don t know Agree (net) 57% 39% 83% 57% Disagree (net) b. Reporters should be shielded from prosecution by the Trump administration. Strongly agree 33% 12% 59% 35% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 47% 25% 75% 50% Disagree (net)

22 c. Most news outlets have a liberal bias. Strongly agree 28% 54% 7% 28% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 48% 80% 23% 47% Disagree (net) d. The mainstream media treats President Trump unfairly. Strongly agree 28% 57% 6% 24% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 43% 79% 11% 41% Disagree (net) e. The news media is the enemy of the American people. Strongly agree 12% 18% 5% 13% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 29% 48% 12% 26% Disagree (net)

23 f. President Trump should close down mainstream news outlets, like CNN, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. Strongly agree 6% 11% 4% 5% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 13% 23% 8% 10% Disagree (net) Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Total agree When jobs are scarce, employers should prioritize hiring people of this country over 61% immigrants America needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful 67% The American economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful 64% Traditional parties and politicians don t care about people like me 70% The mainstream media is more interested in making money than telling the truth 59% I am proud to be an American 80%

24 Total disagree When jobs are scarce, employers should prioritize hiring people of this country over 12% immigrants America needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful 11% The American economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful 16% Traditional parties and politicians don t care about people like me 10% The mainstream media is more interested in making money than telling the truth 21% I am proud to be an American 7% a. When jobs are scarce, employers should prioritize hiring people of this country over immigrants Strongly agree 38% 57% 22% 34% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 61% 82% 41% 64% Disagree (net) b. America needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful Strongly agree 42% 39% 47% 44% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 67% 62% 74% 67% Disagree (net)

25 c. The American economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful Strongly agree 34% 16% 49% 43% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know 1 2 * 1 Agree (net) 64% 46% 82% 68% Disagree (net) d. Traditional parties and politicians don t care about people like me Strongly agree 33% 31% 28% 43% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know Agree (net) 70% 71% 64% 79% Disagree (net) e. The mainstream media is more interested in making money than telling the truth Strongly agree 35% 54% 14% 40% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know * Agree (net) 59% 84% 33% 58% Disagree (net)

26 f. I am proud to be an American Strongly agree 59% 81% 44% 52% Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don t know * Agree (net) 80% 94% 73% 73% Disagree (net) How do you get most of your news? (Select all that apply) Online/internet 60% 62% 63% 54% Television Social media (Twitter, Facebook) Radio Print newspapers/magazines Mobile News apps None of the above Of the choices listed below, which is your main source of television news? (Select one) FOX News 21% 43% 4% 14% ABC CNN CBS NBC MSNBC Public Television NPR Other None of the above

27 9. How would you describe the area in which you live? Rural 24% 27% 17% 25% Suburban Urban Thinking about politics and government, do you consider yourself? Very conservative 12% 27% 1% 8% Moderately conservative Lean conservative Lean liberal Moderately liberal Very liberal Don t know/refuse Conservative (Net) Liberal (Net) With which political party do you most identify? Strong Democrat 13% - 41% - Moderate Democrat Lean Democrat Lean Republican Moderate Republican Strong Republican Independent Other Don t know/refuse Democrat (Net) 33% - 100% - Independent (Net) Republican (Net)

28 About the Study These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted August 3-6, For the survey, a sample of roughly 1,003 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 323 Democrats, 363 Republicans, and 207 Independents. The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos s online panel (see link below for more info on Access Panels and Recruitment ), partner online panel sources, and river sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos Ampario Overview sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2013 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post-hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,000, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5 percentage points). The poll also has a credibility interval plus or minus 6.2 percentage points for Democrats, plus or minus 5.9 percentage points for Republicans, and plus or minus 7.8 percentage points for Independents. For more information about conducting research intended for public release or Ipsos online polling methodology, please visit our Public Opinion Polling and Communication page where you can download our brochure, see our public release protocol, or contact us. For more information on this news release, please contact: Vice President, U.S. Ipsos Public Affairs Clifford Young Vice President, U.S. Ipsos Public Affairs clifford.young@ipsos.com 2

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