http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_126.pdfpoll by the firm Public Policy Polling (as I understand it, a bit of a Democrat-leaning group), shows interesting breakdowns on who the American public trusts to shoot straight with the facts:
Do you trust...
ABC? Yes - 31%, No - 46%
CBS? Yes - 32%, No - 46%
CNN? Yes - 39%, No - 41%
Fox? Yes - 49%, No - 37%
NBC? Yes - 35%, No - 44%
The firm indicates that this is due to Americans' desire to listen to "outlets that tell them what they want to hear." Another quote: "Pople trust Fox the most precisely because of it's
lack of neutrality." (Emphasis in the original.) But look at the internals:
Percentage saying they trust the networks, based on political identification:
ABC: D - 51%, I - 21%, R - 19%
CBS: D - 55%, I - 22%, R - 17%
CNN: D - 59%, I - 33%, R - 23%
Fox: D - 30%, I - 41%, R - 74%
NBC: D - 62%, I - 22%, R - 17%
So, isn't it just possible that, based on the figures from folks who consider themselves independent, Fox actually
is viewed as the most trustworthy? CNN is obviously a strong second among independents and Republicans. It also comes in second among Democrats. But I don't see a reason to slam the public here - maybe, just maybe, it's the mainstream media that needs a reprimand?