U.S. journalists more likely than the public to say all sides don’t always deserve equal coverage

Pew Research Center

Journalists who view misinformation as a very big problem are more likely to say that not every side deserves equal news coverage   Donald Trump as a case in point.

U.S. adults with less trust in the news are more likely to say journalists should always strive to cover all sides equally

Trends and Facts on Newspapers | State of the News Media | Pew Research Center

Newspapers are a critical part of the American news landscape, but they have been hit hard as more and more Americans consume news digitally. The industry’s financial fortunes and subscriber base have been in decline since the mid-2000s, and their website audience traffic has begun to decline as well. Explore the patterns and longitudinal data of U.S. newspapers below.

SHORT READ INFOGRAPHICS

U.S. journalists differ from the public in their views of ‘bothsidesism’ in journalism

U.S. journalists more likely than the public to say all sides don’t always deserve equal coverage

Journalists’ views about equal coverage vary by age, platform and political leaning of outlet’s audience

Journalists who view misinformation as a very big problem are more likely to say that not every side deserves equal news coverage

U.S. adults with less trust in the news are more likely to say journalists should always strive to cover all sides equally

Let newspapers die - Don Surber (substack.com)   . . ."One reason newspapers are failing to maintain their circulation is their failure to maintain their credibility. Trust in all news organizations fell from 76% in 2016 to 58% in 2021. It is not that the media gets the story wrong; it is that the media seldom admits it was wrong.

"Has anyone seen a newspaper correction about the crazy coverage of covid that proved to be wrong, wrong, wrong? Has anyone in the media apologized for dismissing ivermectin as horse medicine? Has anyone admitted the vaccine wasn’t a vaccine? A few news outlets and media personalities have finally said, gee, it really came from a bioweapons lab in Wuhan.

"The New York Times and Washington Post still bitterly cling to their Pulitzers for pushing the Russian Hoax. They are the Jussie Smolletts of journalism.

"Another reason for the decline is the loss of objectivity — or as ignorant journalists call it “bothsidesism.” Apparently the word objectivity no longer is used in J-school." . . .

I am a retired newspaperman. I am 70 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 46 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Promoted to Grandfather in 2020.