Americans Overwhelmingly Believe Media Are Liberally Biased

A new poll released by Scott Rasmussen Friday identified that by almost a two to one margin, people believe the media are liberally biased.

As you might imagine, for the most part, those that don’t see it this way are registered Democrats.

Go figure.

Regardless, the data was quite illuminating to say the least (emphasis added throughout):

By a 39% to 20% margin, American adults believe that the three major broadcast networks deliver news with a bias in favor of liberals.

Maybe even more amazing, according to this survey, “25% believe that ABC, CBS, and NBC deliver the news without any bias.”

How’d you like to be part of that addle-minded minority? But I digress:  

Similar results are found for CNN and National Public Radio (NPR). By a margin of 33% to 16%, Americans say that CNN has a liberal bias. The nation’s adults say the same about NPR by a 27% to 14% margin.

Yet, here’s a stunner that is sure to rattle the nerves of liberals everywhere:

When it comes to delivering news without bias, 37% believe NPR accomplishes that goal. Thirty-six percent (36%) say the same for Fox and 32% believe it’s true of CNN.

So, almost the same number of people who think that NPR is fair and balanced feel the same about Fox. Maybe the Democrats should start boycotting NPR, too.

Not withstanding, there were other fascinating findings in this survey:

For example, among self-identified liberals, all of the media outlets are believed to have some net bias in favor of conservatives. However, 50% of liberals say that NPR is unbiased. Forty-three percent (43%) say the same about CNN. As for the major television networks, 49% of liberals believe they have a conservative bias. Just 10% of liberals see a liberal bias at ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Can you imagine the intellectual capacity of someone who believes that ABC, CBS, and NBC are conservatively biased? Must be the same people who think Michael Moore’s films are actually documentaries, and Al Gore is more qualified to make climate prognostications than accredited meteorologists and climatologists.

On a related topic, another Rasmussen study found that Americans are equally divided about the controversial Fairness Doctrine:

Americans are evenly divided as to whether or not the government should “require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary.” The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 41% favor that proposal and 41% are opposed.

[…]

A large segment of the public would like to extend the concept of the Fairness Doctrine to the Internet as well. Thirty-four percent (34%) believe the government should “require web sites that offer political commentary to present opposing viewpoints.” Fifty percent (50%) are opposed.

[…]

Thirty-six percent (36%) of Americans believe that “there are more conservative radio talk shows because they get better ratings than liberal talk radio.” Twenty-seven percent (27%) believe “there are more conservative talk shows because the station owners are biased and don't want liberal shows on their station.” Another 16% believe there is some other reason for the imbalance.

Yet, the following was most unsettling:

An interesting dynamic of the public debate is that liberals are more supportive of the “Fairness Doctrine: than conservatives. Liberals support the measure by a 51% to 33% margin while conservatives are opposed by a 48% to 40% margin.

40 percent of conservatives are in favor of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine? These most be folks not reading NewsBusters.