Forty-eight percent (48%) of voters believe news networks and personalities are more interested in building influence and power rather than accurately reporting the news. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 31% take the opposite view and believe the news outlets are more interested in accurate reporting.
As on most issues involving the media, Republicans are more skeptical than Democrats. By a 58% to 25% margin, Republicans believe news networks are most interested in building influence and power. Democrats are evenly divided.
Most voters with a postgraduate degree believe the news outlets prioritize accurate reporting. Most other voters disagree.
Data released earlier found that just 39% of voters believe reporters would honestly report information that contradicts their own partisan and ideological views.
SIGN UP to receive Scott’s free email newsletter.
CHECK OUT Scott’s latest polls.
Note: Neither Scott Rasmussen, ScottRasmussen.com, nor RMG Research, Inc. have any affiliation with Rasmussen Reports. While Scott Rasmussen founded that firm, he left more than seven years ago and has had no involvement since that time.
Methodology
The survey of 1,000 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from July 27-28, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Most respondents were contacted online or via text while 232 were contacted using automated phone polling techniques. Online respondents were selected from a list of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.
