Do you think that the media spreads fake news? Apparently 90% of Americans polled think they are. Yes, 90%! Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Americans say they’re either “regularly” (27%) or “occasionally” being fed fake news by traditional major TV and newspaper outlets.
| 90% of Americans say TV and newspaper outlets spread ‘Fake News’ |
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Asked to cite the reason that these media report fake news, 39% say they do it “On purpose in order to push an agenda,” while only 17% say it is “By accident or because of poor fact checking.” Another 32% denied that traditional TV and newspaper media report fake news.
Regarding online news websites, Americans are even more distrustful, as 80% say these Internet outlets post fake news either regularly (41%) or occasionally (39%).
More than half (54%) say these news websites are doing it deliberately to push an agenda – more than three times those who blame unintentional mistakes and faulty research (17%). Only 11% say online news websites do not publish fake news.
By party, Democrats are much more trusting of both traditional and online media than are either Republicans or Independents. Half (50%) of Democrats say traditional major TV and newspaper outlines do not report fake news, compared to 29% of Independents and 15% of Republicans.