Pew Poll: Americans Still Like the News Media — Sort Of

From The Associated Press:

Despite growing doubts about the news media’s patriotism, most people still have a positive view of news outlets, according to a new poll.

While the public views much of the news media favorably, they are less inclined to consider those sources of news believable, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Seven in 10 people said they have a favorable view of their local newspaper, and almost as many say that about local TV news, cable news networks and network broadcast news.

News organizations in general have seen a drop in the percentage of people who find them believable. Almost three-quarters said they think the news media tend to favor one side in their coverage – up from half who felt that way in the mid-1980s.

But a solid majority of those polled, six in 10, said they feel the news media’s criticism of leaders plays an important role in preventing those leaders from doing the wrong thing.

While people are critical of the press, “there is an enduring support for what the press does,” said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, which co-sponsored the poll.

People were evenly divided on whether the news media “stands up for America” or is “too critical of America.” Republicans were more likely to view the media as critical of America.

The source of news is changing for many – with the use of online news highest among younger adults. Television remained the dominant source of news for all people, the poll found.

Newspapers were the primary source of news for at least half of people 50 and over.

The poll of 1,484 adults was taken June 8-12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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