Pew Poll: Negative Perception of Media at All-Time High

By Christopher Peleo-Lazar  //  September 22, 2011 | 3:33 p.m.
Updated: September 24, 2011 | 6:40 p.m.

Americans are more critical of the press than they've ever been, according to a new Pew Research Center poll.

Pew has been running a "Views of the Media" poll every other year since in 1985. In this year's survey, 66 percent of Americans said the stories they come across are "often inaccurate," up three percent from the last poll. Americans are also very wary of outside influences on reporting: 77 percent said they believe news organizations favor one side over another and 80 percent said the news is often influenced by powerful people and organizations.

Americans say they are more trusting of local news than they are of national outlets: 69 percent said they trust local sources either "some" or "a lot," while national news organizations earn 59 percent trust.

When asked the same question about specific government institutions, respondents exhibited notably less trust. Just 50 percent said they trust the Obama administration while just 37 percent said they trust Members of Congress. Only 29 percent said they trust candidates running for office.

Fox News Channel is the most popular destination for television news, according to the poll; 19 percent said they get their television news from Fox. Local news came in second at 16 percent, ahead of other national cable and broadcast networks. Fifteen percent said they turn to CNN while just six percent said they turn to MSNBC. Of the networks, NBC led with 10 percent of respondents, ahead of ABC at 8 percent and CBS at 7 percent. The Pew Research Center poll was conducted in three different analysis periods June 23-26, surveying 1,005 adults, for a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percent, July 21-24 surveying 999 adults for a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percent, and Aug. 4-7 surveying 1,001 adults for a margin of error of +/- 4.0.

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