4th Annual TV News Trust Poll

PPP's annual poll on TV news finds that there's only one source more Americans trust than distrust: PBS. 52% of voters say they trust PBS to only 29% who don't trust it. The other seven outlets we polled on are all distrusted by a plurality of voters.

Just like its actual ratings, Fox News has hit a record low in the four years that we've been doing this poll. 41% of voters trust it to 46% who do not. To put those numbers into some perspective the first time we did this poll, in 2010, 49% of voters trusted it to 37% who did not. Fox has maintained most of its credibility with Republicans, dropping just from 74/15 to 70/15 over that period of time. But it's been losing what standing it had with Democrats (from 30/52 to 22/66) and independents (from 41/44 to 32/56).

We find once again this year that Democrats trust everything except Fox, and Republicans don't trust anything other than Fox. Democrats put the most faith in PBS (+61 at 72/11), followed by NBC (+45 at 61/16), MSNBC (+39 at 58/19), CBS (+38 at 54/16), CNN (+36 at 57/21), ABC (+35 at 51/16), and Comedy Central (+10 at 38/28). Out of the non-Fox channels Republicans have the most faith in PBS at -21 (27/48),  followed by NBC (-48 at 18/66), CNN (-49 at 17/66), ABC (-56 at 14/70), MSNBC (-56 at 12/68), CBS (-57 at 15/72), and Comedy Central (-58 at 8/66).

When it comes to asking Americans which single outlet they trust the most and least out of the ones we polled on, Fox News once again wins both honors. 34% say it's the one they trust the most, compared to 13% for PBS, 12% for CNN, 11% for ABC, 8% for MSNBC, 6% for CBS, and 5% each for Comedy Central and NBC. Fox News is the choice of 67% of Republicans, while Democrats basically split their allegiances four ways between ABC and CNN, both at 17%, and MSNBC and PBS, both at 16%.

Even more Americans identify Fox News as the outlet they trust the least- 39% give its that designation to 14% for MSNBC, 13% for CNN, 12% for Comedy Central, 5% for ABC and CBS, 3% for NBC, and 1% for PBS. 60% of Democrats give it their lowest marks while Republicans split between MSNBC (24%), CNN (19%), and Comedy Central (14%) on that front.

Full results here

Comments

[pbrower2a]

Cute names for FoX News --

The Propaganda Channel
GOP Pravda
FoX Noise
Faux News

[Steve]

I wonder whether Republicans know that here in the UK, the Murdoch-owned Sky News channel shows 30 minutes of US news from one of the networks every night.

Which network has Murdoch's channel chosen? No, not Fox but CBS. The one that Repugs mistrust by 15/72.

[Gregg Hitchcock]

This proves that the one thing that the Left is good at is demonizing the Right. I would bet that the majority of respondents who identified FOX News as the least trusted outlet never watch FOX News.

[Duncan]

Fox News, PBS, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, CBS, Comedy Central and NBC.

One of these does not belong - most are news or broadcast networks, yet one is a comedy station.

[LiberalAgenda21]

"We find once again this year that Democrats trust everything except Fox, and Republicans don't trust anything other than Fox."

That should tell you something right there.

[CS]

Who the hell would trust Fox News ...haha is this a joke?

[kim wasserman]

I don't like any of them but am really glad to see fox outed as not just incompetent but the filthy, lying, cowards they are.

[Gersynthe de Sabran]

It's true that Murdoch-owned Sky News channel shows 30 minutes of US news from one of the networks every night in the UK. What also, alas, true, is that the satellite provider B-Sky-B devotes one channel exclusively to Fox News, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My first impression upon discovering Fox for the first time sometimes in 2001 was surprise and disgust that any American Network News could be so gung-ho to go to war in Irak based on what turns out to have been lies. In decade since, my impression remains : Fox News is worthy of Dr. Goebbels propaganda machine, furthering an agenda which has produced incalculable suffering in the world..

[Richard Jepsen]

I do watch Fox News (ugh) just to try to understand. it isn't helping.

[MRV]

Can anyone point to an example of FOX news doctoring news clips so as to manipulate the viewers perception of the event?
Anyone?
Anyone?

[Phil Meyer]

Rupert Murdoch of News Corp / Fox News Admits Manipulating the News for Agenda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K2pLo8JV5Y

Fox News Caught Repeatedly Cropping, Manipulating Video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/fox-news-assailed-for-vid_n_196719.html

[Jason Beets]

Here is my analysis of last year's PPP news trust poll.

http://jasonbeets.blogspot.com/2012/01/public-policy-pollings-news-trust-poll.html

PPP really needs to add NPR and the national newspapers to its poll. I thank PPP for coming up with the most important poll to understanding how the American people interact with their media.

And MRV, here is a link to 5 detailed examples of Fox deception.

http://jasonbeets.blogspot.com/2011/05/foxs-history-of-dishonesty-over-past.html

[steve]

Why would anyone trust any American news channel?..

Are you folks not seeing the 24 hr bullshit news cycle in America? They ALL lie ALL THE TIME...