Media takes a drubbing from Americans in latest Pew Poll

By George Hand Wright, circa 1919: Newspaper reporters listening through pipe for sounds of life at the scene of an aqueduct tunnel cave-in. [US Library of Congress digital collection.]

By Kay B. Day

Most will not be surprised that a new poll from The Pew Research Center disclosed Americans have a low opinion of media when it comes to getting the facts straight and other matters. The report overview posted on the Pew website said, “The public’s assessment of the accuracy of news stories is now at its lowest level in more than two decades of Pew Research surveys, and Americans’ views of media bias and independence now match previous lows.” The overview also noted, “Just 29% of Americans say that news organizations generally get the facts straight, while 63% say that news stories are often inaccurate.”

As I often point out, Main Street is not stupid, although the information class appears to believe that to be the case. It is useful to also note at this point in my analysis that many “journalists” and media employees are union members. Furthermore, after a heated election in 2008, more than 13 “journalists” from branded media that include ABC News, CNN, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune among others have gone on to far greener word-pushing pastures—they work for President Barack Obama’s administration.

In addition 2 high profile purveyors of journalism-lite have connections to the Democratic Party via their past employment: Chris Matthews of the shivering leg and George Stephanopoulos of the ‘I’ll ask the question and respond to it too,’ school of punditry.

Pew has placed full information on their website—one conclusion that will surprise no one is that Republicans like Fox and Dems like CNN. I once again find myself wondering why Libertarians are not questioned, particularly in these dismal times for the Republic.

An opportunity for newspapers is disclosed—approximately (41%) get local news about issues and events from newspapers.

I believe one barrier to newspapers’ popularity is the reliance on Associated Press stories that often homogenize the news and display bias. The AP, as the Heritage Foundation has pointed out, often relies on leftwinger nonprofits for news content, but I do not see source disclaimers with bylines on stories related to leftists’ favorite topics like climate change and racism. Transparency and all that.

Despite utilizing technology in an attempt to carve out market share, many branded media outlets refuse to investigate stories beyond the shallow who-what-when-where detail. They leave out the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’

And major media has missed major stories, either deliberately or through sheer stupidity. Among them:

•President Barack Obama’s federal earmarks, self-disclosed during the campaign. As a partial term senator, Obama sponsored or co-sponsored hundreds of millions in earmarks. A number of outlets did report his earmarks, but limited the reportage to those he directly sponsored (about $300 million). He co-sponsored hundreds of millions more, by the way.

•ACORN’s antics, partly funded by millions of taxpayer dollars.

•The real reasons for the financial meltdown.

•Stories about climate change—almost always pro-alarmist despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary a la the Gore school of climate theology.

•Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.), “I hope you go out of business” remark to a daily newspaper.

•Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) accusations against the CIA.

•The American Civil Liberty Union’s transgressions showing CIA personnel photos to Gitmo detainees—remember the Valerie Plame outrage?

•Sensationalized headlines from almost every “scientific study” without specific information for the reader to properly frame the study. One example: the BMI index widely accepted as  medical gospel developed by a long-dead Belgian.

I could go on and on. Those are just for starters.

The Pew Poll indicates Main Street is smarter than the political class realizes. Obviously the public has lost confidence in branded media and that confidence is possibly gone for good.

[Help us combat statist search engines. Use the icons below to share this article.]