Americans value honesty, intelligence, authenticity in the people they get news from – but not popularity | Pew Research Center

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August 11, 2025

How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age

Americans value honesty, intelligence, authenticity in the people they get news from – but not popularity

Americans value honesty, intelligence, authenticity in the people they get news from – but not popularity

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Americans value honesty, intelligence, authenticity in the people they get news from – but not popularity

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How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age
Mixed views about whether people who produce various types of news content are journalists
Americans value honesty, intelligence, authenticity in the people they get news from – but not popularity
Americans are most likely to consider newspaper writers, TV and radio reporters to be journalists
Far more say journalists are losing influence in society than gaining it
Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say negative traits describe most journalists well
About half of Americans say it’s OK for journalists to advocate for communities, but there is less support for journalists expressing their political or religious views