Media's Approval Rating for Reporting Both Sides at 13 Percent

Just 13 percent of Americans believe that the media does a very good job covering both sides of political issues fairly. Pew Research finds that a somewhat larger number, 22 percent, believe that the media does not do this well at all.[1]

Most Americans rate the media performance in this regard somewhat more modestly. Thirty-four percent (34 percent) say that journalists cover both sides of an issue somewhat well, while 20 percent say not very well.

There is a strong partisan divide on these numbers. Just 21 percent of Republicans believe the media covers both sides even somewhat well. Fifty-five percent (55 percent) of other voters voice such confidence.

The 34 percentage-point gap along partisan lines is far larger than is found in any other country. "The U.S. is also one of only a few countries where governing party supporters are less satisfied with their news media than are nonsupporters." [1]

These numbers clash with public expectations of appropriate media behavior. Seventy-eight percent (78 percent) say that "it is never acceptable for a news organization to favor one political party over others when reporting the news. Just 20 percent say this is sometimes okay." [1]

Footnotes:

1. Pew Research Center, "Publics Globally Want Unbiased News Coverage, but Are Divided on Whether Their News Media Deliver," January 11, 2018

   Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

   Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.