Trust in Media 2022: Where Americans Get their News and Who They Trust for Information

From We are America the Beautiful blog on April 19, 2022

The Economist/YouGov Poll: Source: https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/04/05/trust-media-2022-where-americans-get-news-poll

A recent Economist/YouGov poll surveyed 1,500 American adults on their trust in specific news organizations and media personalities, and where they consume information. The Weather Channel is the most trusted outlet by both Republicans and Democrats (52%). The next three most-trusted media organizations are PBS - 41%, BBC - 39%, and The Wall Street Journal - 37%.

The most polarizing media organization is CNN - 66% of Democrats trust the news outlet compared to 11% of Republicans - a 55-point spread between the two parties. Similarly, the New York Times has a 49-point spread between Democrats (63%) and Republicans (14%)

In fact, Democrats are more trusting of most mainstream media organizations than Republicans, with the exception of right-wing news like Fox News, Breitbart, NewsMax, and OAN. Still, the level of trust that Republicans have for these media companies is not as high as Democrats' trust in mainstream media.

Fox News:

  • 57% Republicans

  • 15% Democrats

Breitbart:

  • 25% Republicans

  • 12% Democrats

Newsmax:

  • 30% Republicans

  • 12% Democrats

CNN:

  • 66% Democrats

  • 11% Republicans

MSNBC:

  • 52% Democrats

  • 9% Republicans

The Washington Post

  • 61% Democrats

  • 16% Republicans

The most trusted news anchors are CNN's Anderson Cooper (44%), ABC News' David Muir (40%), Fox News' Bret Baier (39%), ABC News' George Stephanopolous (38%), and CNN's Wolf Blitzer (38%)

Where do most Americans consume their news? Democrats have a higher percentage of watching broadcast and cable news and reading national and local news than Republicans. Older adults watch the news on television and adults under 30 are more likely to get the news from social media and YouTube.

Broadcast News:

  • 56% 65 and older

  • 21% Under 30

  • 53% Democrats

  • 35% Republicans

Cable News

  • 53% 65 and older

  • 26% Under 30

  • 47% Democrats

  • 40% Republicans

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc)

  • 22% 65 and older

  • 41% Under 30

  • 33% Democrats

  • 31% Republicans

YouTube

  • 11% 65 and older

  • 27% Under 30

National Newspapers

  • 21% 65 and older

  • 28% Under 30

  • 35% Democrats

  • 15% Republicans

Local Newspapers

  • 33% 65 and older

  • 13% Under 30

  • 27% Democrats

  • 21% Republicans

Conservative news websites

  • 23% Republicans

  • 5% Democrats

Liberal news websites

  • 7% Democrats

  • 2% Republicans

Source: https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/04/05/trust-media-2022-where-americans-get-news-poll

WAATB BlogBritney AchinWAATB