Trust Crisis: American Journalism’s Inability to do Journalism
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Key Takeaways
- Public sentiment toward mainstream media is negative with frustration and a belief that politicians are not held accountable by the press.
- The pressing issues of immigration, economic strain, and political integrity remain priorities, fostering calls for transparency and responsible journalism.
- Many Americans believe legacy media outlets follow narratives set by political leaders without asking critical questions or presenting accurate information.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
35,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
7 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
MIG Reports analysis confirms Americans continue to be deeply skepticism about the integrity and reliability of mainstream media sources. People often use terms like propaganda, lies, and gaslighting in reference to news reports from legacy outlets.
Public frustration centers around the perceived inability, and perhaps unwillingness, of media outlets to impartially report on issues such as immigration, government accountability, and political leadership. Many Americans often perceive modern journalism as essentially the communications arm of the government.
The Media Carries Water for Politicians
Central to this conversation is the idea of truth,” which appears frequently as individuals scrutinize the motivations behind political and news cycle narratives. Americans express dissatisfaction with how government officials communicate about contentious topics like immigration and the economy.
For instance, phrases like "fighting to fix our broken immigration system" are met with skepticism, as the public questions genuine intentions versus politically expedient placating. Voters feel the media plays a large role in obscuring the truth, especially when it comes to reporting on government actions.
Many feel the truth about and implications of government policies on citizens' daily lives is obfuscated by news reports following the Biden administration’s talking points. This sentiment is recurring in previous analyses in which Americans feel starved for transparency and substance in political dialogue.
Questions of media bias and accountability also emerge, with many Americans advocating for greater scrutiny on political narratives. People believe media outlets are complicit in propagating political agendas rather than holding politicians accountable. They say journalism often prioritizes sensationalism over factual reporting. Calls for a return to media ethics and transparency in political dealings abound.
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Voters Want Transparency and Accountability
There’s a sense of urgency for accountability and honesty within media and government discourse. Many on the right also lament apparent censorship of opposing viewpoints by mainstream media and big tech.
Many fear the consequences of poor policy decisions, especially on immigration and economic hardships. They believe that, because the media refuses to report honestly, Americans struggle to find accurate information, remaining ill-informed. The level of public trust in legacy media is dismally low.
Public sentiment is negative toward government, with the Biden-Harris administration as focal points for criticism. Voters highlight specific policies, such as the open border and the Inflation Reduction Act as examples of Democratic failures to prioritize the welfare of American citizens. For many, there is a disconnect between governmental promises and actual outcomes.
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