{"id":87778,"date":"2020-08-31T11:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T16:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/"},"modified":"2024-05-17T11:38:11","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T15:38:11","slug":"partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/","title":{"rendered":"4. Partisans remain sharply divided in many views toward the news media; stark differences between Trump\u2019s strongest supporters, critics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A major takeaway of the first phase of this yearlong study was that <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2019\/12\/12\/trusting-the-news-media-in-the-trump-era\/\">partisan dynamics are the strongest factor<\/a> in Americans\u2019 trust in the news media and other related concepts. The findings here reinforce that conclusion: Republicans, and especially strong Trump supporters, consistently express more negative sentiments about the news media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a few places, though, where there is somewhat more agreement, including opinions about whether the news media should be approached with skepticism, perceptions of whether confidence in the institution can increase, and important factors that draw people to their key sources of news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;republicans-are-more-negative-than-democrats-in-views-of-the-news-media-s-role-in-society&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"republicans-are-more-negative-than-democrats-in-views-of-the-news-media-s-role-in-society\">Republicans are more negative than Democrats in views of the news media\u2019s role in society<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across a range of attitudes toward the news media, Republicans and those who lean toward the Republican Party are far more negative than Democrats and Democratic leaners, including in their <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/05\/08\/americans-are-more-negative-in-their-broader-views-of-journalists-than-they-are-toward-covid-19-coverage\/\">levels of confidence in the media<\/a>, their perceptions of how transparent news outlets are, and their views about the role and impact of news organizations in America.[6.numoffset=&#8221;6&#8243; Throughout this chapter, \u201cRepublicans\u201d refers to respondents who identify as Republican or who say they are independents but indicate in a follow-up question that they lean toward the GOP, and \u201cDemocrats\u201d include both respondents who identify as Democrats or who say they are independents but lean toward the Democratic Party.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are far less likely to think the American public has confidence in the news media, and they have a lower level of confidence themselves <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/05\/08\/americans-are-more-negative-in-their-broader-views-of-journalists-than-they-are-toward-covid-19-coverage\/\">that journalists act in the best interest of the public<\/a>. Additionally, Republicans tend to think that news organizations are not transparent with their audiences in many ways \u2013 though most Democrats also feel news outlets do an insufficient job explaining where their money comes from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/pj_2020-08-31_trust-in-news-media_4-01-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f0eaeb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f0eaeb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-01.png?resize=480,422 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-01.png?resize=782,687 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-01.png?resize=960,844 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-01.png?resize=1200,1055 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-01.png?resize=1290,1134 1290w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"563\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-01.png?w=1024\" alt=\"Republicans far more negative than Democrats in their evaluations of the media\" class=\"wp-image-108577 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There also are large partisan divides in views of the role news organizations play in society, as well as of their professional standards. When asked to evaluate <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/americans-are-largely-skeptical-of-the-news-media-but-say-there-is-room-for-confidence-to-improve\/\">news organizations along five dimensions<\/a>, Republicans are less likely than Democrats to hold a positive view in all five areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, six-in-ten Democrats say the news media care about how good of a job they do, compared with 28% of Republicans who say the same. And nearly seven-in-ten Republicans (69%) say journalists do not care about the people they report on. Democrats are far less negative in this way, although they also are more likely to say news organizations do <em>not<\/em> care about those they cover (40%) rather than that they do care (32%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;republicans-far-more-likely-than-democrats-to-think-that-mistakes-in-news-reports-happen-because-of-an-intention-to-mislead-audiences&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"republicans-far-more-likely-than-democrats-to-think-that-mistakes-in-news-reports-happen-because-of-an-intention-to-mislead-audiences\">Republicans far more likely than Democrats to think that mistakes in news reports happen because of an intention to mislead audiences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/pj_2020-08-31_trust-in-news-media_4-02-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f4f3f3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f4f3f3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-02.png?resize=480,550 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-02.png?resize=782,896 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-02.png?resize=848,972 848w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"481\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-02.png?w=848\" alt=\"Republicans far more likely to cite deception and carelessness for why mistakes in news stories occur\" class=\"wp-image-108583 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much more so than Democrats, many Republicans generally go into news stories expecting they will be inaccurate. But they also go a step further: There is a deep sense among Republicans that ill will leads to mistakes in news stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are about twice as likely as Democrats to say that a major reason significant mistakes happen in news stories is that there is a desire to mislead audiences (60% vs. 32%). And about two-thirds of Republicans (67%) say careless reporting is a major reason, compared with 46% of Democrats. Republicans also are modestly more likely to say that lack of expertise and incorrect information from sources are major reasons for errors in news stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-callout has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quote-from-focus-group\">Quote from focus group:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI don\u2019t know. A lot of times they lie. To me, they lie a lot. And they don&#8217;t tell the truth when I watch them.\u201d \u2013 Republican woman, 53<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Democrats are somewhat more likely than Republicans to cite one possible reason for errors, one that is less of an indictment of journalists\u2019 own work: More than half of Democrats (56%) say the fast pace of breaking news is a major reason why significant mistakes happen in news stories, 7 percentage points higher than Republicans (49%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;majorities-in-both-parties-see-the-benefit-of-approaching-the-news-media-with-some-level-of-skepticism&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"majorities-in-both-parties-see-the-benefit-of-approaching-the-news-media-with-some-level-of-skepticism\">Majorities in both parties see the benefit of approaching the news media with some level of skepticism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/pj_2020-08-31_trust-in-news-media_4-03-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebe6e0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebe6e0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-03.png?resize=480,551 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-03.png?resize=782,898 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-03.png?resize=836,960 836w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"482\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-03.png?w=836\" alt=\"Majorities of both Republicans and Democrats say it is better for society to be skeptical of the media \u2026\" class=\"wp-image-108588 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite a long list of divides between the two major parties in their views toward the news media, there are a few places where Republicans and Democrats are more likely to see eye to eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seven-in-ten Republicans say that, in an ideal world, it would be better for society if the public is skeptical of the news media (rather than trusting). Most Democrats \u2013 albeit a smaller majority (56%) \u2013 also say that skepticism toward the news media is better than trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, large majorities of both parties feel that the public\u2019s confidence in the news media could improve in the future. Eight-in-ten Democrats say it is possible for this to happen, as do seven-in-ten Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/pj_2020-08-31_trust-in-news-media_4-04-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3ddde\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3ddde;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-04.png?resize=480,955 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-04.png?resize=628,1250 628w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"617\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-04.png?w=514\" alt=\"Republicans and Democrats largely agree on the personal connections they seek in their news sources\" class=\"wp-image-108591 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans and Democrats also navigate the news environment in very similar ways. Members of the two parties hardly differ from each other, if at all, in thinking that <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/americans-who-have-a-closer-relationship-with-their-news-sources-are-more-supportive-of-the-news-media-overall\/\">six different aspects<\/a> of how news organizations connect with their audiences are important in deciding where to get their news. For example, 56% of Democrats and a nearly identical share of Republicans (55%) say it is at least somewhat important for journalists at a news outlet to be warm and friendly. And about half of both groups say that it is important that the source shares their views. Democrats are slightly more likely to say that it is very or somewhat important that the journalists at a particular news outlet look or sound like them (23%, vs. 16% of Republicans), in part because Black and Hispanic Americans \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2020\/06\/02\/the-changing-composition-of-the-electorate-and-partisan-coalitions\/\">who make up a larger share of the Democratic Party<\/a> \u2013 are more likely to take this position (<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/black-americans-see-representation-as-key-in-determining-how-they-stay-informed\/\">see Chapter 5<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;support-for-trump-connects-with-views-of-the-news-media-particularly-within-the-republican-party&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"support-for-trump-connects-with-views-of-the-news-media-particularly-within-the-republican-party\">Support for Trump connects with views of the news media, particularly within the Republican Party<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another major takeaway of the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2019\/12\/12\/trusting-the-news-media-in-the-trump-era\/\">first phase of this study<\/a> is that Americans\u2019 views of the news media closely tie to their views of Donald Trump \u2013 within and across the parties. Trump\u2019s strongest Republican supporters view the news media more negatively than other Republicans. Similarly, there are some divides within the Democratic Party based on the intensity of their feelings toward Trump, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/lifestyle\/media\/a-history-of-the-trump-war-on-media--the-obsession-not-even-coronavirus-could-stop\/2020\/03\/28\/71bb21d0-f433-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html\">who often clashes with the news media<\/a>. In a survey conducted Jan. 6-20, 2020, 64% of Republicans said they strongly approve of how Trump is handling his job as president. The remaining Republicans were split between those who said they approve of Trump somewhat (16%) and those who disapprove either strongly or somewhat (18%). The vast majority of Democrats (92%) disapproved of the job Trump was doing at the time, including 79% who strongly disapproved.[7. The Jan. 6-20 2020 Trump approval measure is used in this analysis because this measure is the closest in time prior to the Feb. 18-March 2 survey that was asked on the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/pj_2020-08-31_trust-in-news-media_4-05-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e8e4e4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e8e4e4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-05.png?resize=480,487 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-05.png?resize=782,793 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-05.png?resize=846,858 846w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"426\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-05.png?w=846\" alt=\"Trump\u2019s strongest Republican supporters least likely to expect their news to be accurate\" class=\"wp-image-108597 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One place in which there is a clear relationship between attitudes toward the media and strong approval of Trump is in opinions about the accuracy of news. Not only do Republicans and Democrats overall differ dramatically in whether they expect the news to be accurate, but Republicans who strongly approve of Trump are much less likely than other Republicans to expect accurate reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly four-in-ten Republicans who strongly approve of Trump (39%) expect the news they get will largely be accurate, compared with 57% of Republicans who approve of Trump somewhat and 62% of those who disapprove of the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are not enough Democrats who approve of Trump in the survey to analyze them separately. But there is still a difference within Democrats on this question: 78% of Democrats who strongly disapprove of Trump generally expect news to be accurate, while a smaller majority of those who disapprove of the president somewhat (68%) say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clear differences also exist in why people think errors occur in news coverage \u2013 particularly within the GOP. Republicans who strongly support Trump are more likely than other Republicans to say mistakes in news stories stem from malintent or carelessness. One of the most commonly named reasons for inaccurate reporting among Trump\u2019s most approving Republicans is that there is an intention to mislead. About two-thirds (67%) say this is a major reason why significant mistakes occur; fewer Republicans who somewhat approve of Trump (50%) or disapprove of him (38%) share this view. And about a third of Democrats (32%) \u2013 among both those who strongly and somewhat disapprove of Trump \u2013 say an intention to mislead is a major reason for errors in news stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-many-views-toward-the-news-media-stark-differences-between-trumps-strongest-supporters-critics\/pj_2020-08-31_trust-in-news-media_4-06-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ece3e3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ece3e3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-06.png?resize=480,331 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-06.png?resize=782,540 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-06.png?resize=960,663 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-06.png?resize=1200,828 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-06.png?resize=1278,882 1278w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"442\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_trust-in-news-media_4-06.png?w=1024\" alt=\"The reasons why Republicans think mistakes happen in news often diverge based on their approval of Trump\" class=\"wp-image-108602 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans who are very supportive of Trump also are somewhat more likely than those who are less supportive to say that carelessness is a major reason for errors in news stories, though majorities of all Republican groups take this position. Conversely, those who are <em>less<\/em> supportive of Trump (among both Republicans and Democrats) are more likely to say the fast pace of breaking news is a major reason for mistakes in reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A similar pattern exists within the GOP on a number of other opinions about the news media, such as views of the public\u2019s confidence in the institution. While roughly a quarter of Republicans (24%) who strongly approve of Trump say the public has a \u201cgreat deal\u201d or \u201cfair amount\u201d of confidence in the news media, this rises to 37% among Republicans who approve of Trump somewhat and nearly half of those who disapprove of him (47%). About six-in-ten Democrats who strongly disapprove (58%) or somewhat disapprove (59%) of Trump say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2019\/12\/12\/within-both-parties-approval-of-trump-is-closely-linked-to-trust-in-the-news-media\/\">Previous findings<\/a> from the yearlong study show the same relationship across a number of attitudes related to trust in the news media, including views of journalists\u2019 ethics, trust in the information from national news organizations and perceptions of the news media\u2019s watchdog role.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A major takeaway of the first phase of this yearlong study was that partisan dynamics are the strongest factor in Americans\u2019 trust in the news media and other related concepts. The findings here reinforce that conclusion: Republicans, and especially strong Trump supporters, consistently express more negative sentiments about the news media. 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Black Americans see representation as key in determining how they stay informed","slug":"black-americans-see-representation-as-key-in-determining-how-they-stay-informed","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/black-americans-see-representation-as-key-in-determining-how-they-stay-informed\/","is_active":false},{"id":87767,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"trust-in-news-media-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/trust-in-news-media-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false},{"id":87757,"title":"Methodology","slug":"trust-in-news-media-methodology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2020\/08\/31\/trust-in-news-media-methodology\/","is_active":false}],"report_materials":[{"key":"b3c33752-18a8-4cae-b62d-4feb034ceb2a","type":"report","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/PJ_2020.08.31_Trust-In-News-Media_FINAL1.pdf","label":"","icon":"","attachmentId":108990},{"key":"ffb4e89c-7897-4752-a677-3c0b7633f3fc","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/08\/ATP-W62-Topline.pdf","label":"February-March 2020 Topline","icon":"topline","attachmentId":""},{"key":"30f58cf4-fa83-4416-80f1-1157cc3e9b97","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/08\/ATP-W72-Topline.pdf","label":"August 2020 Topline","icon":"topline","attachmentId":""},{"type":"dataset","id":1841,"label":"American Trends Panel Wave 62","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/dataset\/american-trends-panel-wave-62\/"},{"type":"dataset","id":1020,"label":"American Trends Panel Wave 72","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/dataset\/american-trends-panel-wave-72\/"}],"report_pagination":{"current_post":{"id":87778,"title":"4. 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