http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/october_2009/just_4_trust_reporters_more_than_themselves_on_what_s_good_for_america


Just 4% Trust Reporters More Than Themselves on What’s Good for America
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Most voters trust themselves more than either Congress or President Obama when it comes to the economy, but they have way more confidence in themselves when it comes to the news media.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 85% of U.S. voters trust their own judgment more than the average reporter when it comes to the important issues affecting the nation. Only four percent (4%) trust the average reporter more. Eleven percent (11%) aren’t sure.

Ninety percent (90%) or more of voters ages 40 to 64 trust themselves more than the average reporter.

In part, this is because just 23% of all voters say the average reporter is about the same as they are ideologically. Fifty-three percent (53%) think the average reporter is more liberal than they are, while 16% say more conservative.

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Two-out-of-three voters (67%) say most reporters when covering a political campaign try to help the candidate they want to win. Just 21% say most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage. These findings are identical to those found throughout last fall’s presidential campaign.

Just before last November’s election, for example, 68% of voters said most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win, and 51% believed they were trying to help Democrat Barack Obama. Just seven percent (7%) thought they were trying to help his Republican opponent, John McCain.

Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party overwhelmingly say most reporters try to help the candidate they favor. Democrats are more closely divided: 32% say most reporters try to be unbiased, while 47% say they try to help the candidate they want to win.

Similarly, 79% of GOP voters and 59% of unaffiliateds believe most reporters are more liberal than they are. Democratic voters, are evenly split between those who say most reporters are more liberal or more conservative. A plurality of Democrats (44%) say reporters are about the same ideologically.

Three-out-of-four Americans (74%) trust their own judgment more than that of the average member of Congress when it comes to economic issues facing the nation.

But then 51% of voters say Congress is too liberal while 22% hold the opposite view and say it is too conservative. Fourteen percent (14%) say the ideological balance of Congress is about right.

Sixty percent (60%) of voters nationwide now trust their own economic judgment more than the president’s.

Seventy-four percent (74%) view the president as politically liberal.

Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans have a favorable opinion of journalists, while 54% view them unfavorably. Adults rank them fifth out of a list of nine professions that Rasmussen Reports periodically surveys on. Being a member of Congress is the least respected job.

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It's definitely apparent that reporters lean more toward who they like. It was clearly evident this last election with NBC, ABC & CBS, oh my gosh, I couldn't stand watching them, so I didn't. Glorifying the man as if he was a God, clearly he's not. Maybe the head of the snake

I do question polls though because it's only a certain amount of people they are asking.