These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
67% Say News Media Have Too Much Influence Over Government Decisions
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Voters are even more convinced now that the news media have too much influence on the actions of government and try to help political candidates they want to win. Most also still think the average reporter is more liberal than they are.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of likely U.S. voters believe the news media have too much power and influence over government decisions, up six points from October . Just eight percent (8%) think the media have too little power and influence, and 19% think their level of power is about right.
Only 20% of all voters say most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage of a political campaign. Seventy-two percent (72%) say most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win.
Just before the November 2008 presidential election, 68% of voters said most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win, and 51% believed they were trying to help Democrat Barack Obama . Just seven percent (7%) thought they were trying to help his Republican opponent, John McCain.
Fifty-one percent (51%) of voters say the average reporter is more liberal than they are. Eighteen percent (18%) say that reporter is more conservative, and 20% think their views are about the same ideologically as the average reporter's. That view is largely unchanged from October .
Eighty-five percent (85%) continue to have more confidence in their own judgment than that of the average reporter when it comes to the important issues affecting the nation, also unchanged from October. Only six percent (6%) trust the average reporter's judgment more.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of Republicans and a plurality (49%) of unaffiliated voters believe the average reporter is more liberal than they are, a view shared by just 24% of Democrats. But 80% or more of all three groups trust their own judgment over that of the average reporter.
Republicans and unaffiliateds are also far more inclined than Democrats to believe most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win.
But voters are more closely divided when asked which matters most in terms of winning elections - having friendly reporters or raising a lot of campaign contributions. Thirty-two percent (32%) say friendly reporters; 41% say campaign contributions, and 27% are undecided.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Democrats say campaign contributions carry the most weight. Republicans and unaffiliated voters are more narrowly divided on the question.
Still, in an August 2008 survey, 55% of all voters said media bias was more of a problem than big campaign contributions . Thirty-six percent (36%) disagreed and said campaign cash was a bigger problem.
Sixty-two percent (62%) also believe that what the media thinks is more important to the average member of Congress than what voters think .
Surveys in 2009 found that the majority believe the media has made the economy , global warming and swine flu appear to be worse than they really are.
Sixty percent believe there is too much media coverage of the president's personal life and family .
Television is still likely to rule as the primary source of political news for most Americans this year.
However, nearly one-third of Americans under the age of 40 say satirical news-oriented television programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart are taking the place of traditional news outlets .