Pew Survey Finds Public Values Journalists yet Sees Their Influence Waning

Journalists remain widely regarded as vital to the health of U.S. democracy, yet many Americans doubt the profession’s clout, according to a new Pew Research Center report on how the public views journalism in the digital age. In a nationally representative survey of 9,397 adults conducted April 14–20, 59% said journalists are extremely or very important to the well-being of society. At the same time, 49% believe journalists are losing influence, compared with 15% who think they are gaining it. Fewer than half of respondents (45%) expressed a great or fair amount of confidence that journalists act in the public interest. Perceptions divide sharply along party lines: 74% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents consider journalists biased, versus 45% of Democrats and Democratic-leaners. Despite those reservations, strong bipartisan majorities—85% in each camp—say their news providers should report accurately every day. Honesty, intelligence and authenticity ranked as the most coveted qualities in news sources, cited by 93%, 89% and 82% of adults, respectively. The survey also found uncertainty over what qualifies someone as a journalist, with far fewer Americans recognizing newer media figures such as podcasters or social-media personalities as journalists compared with traditional print or television reporters.