After falling to an all-time low in 2012, Americans' confidence in the accuracy of the mainstream media has improved slightly, according to a new Gallup poll. However, far more say the mass media are too liberal than too conservative in terms of bias.
Today, 44 percent of Americans have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust and confidence in the mass media, the poll shows. In 2012, just 40 percent felt that way, the lowest percentage since Gallup started tracking trust in media.
In perhaps the most telling -- and decisive -- finding in the survey, 46 percent of Americans believe the media are too liberal as compared to the 13 percent who view the media as too conservative.
"Thirty-seven percent currently describe the media's political leanings as 'just about right,'" Gallup notes.
It's also interesting to note that just 21 percent of Democrats said the media are too conservative, compared to the 74 percent of Republicans who perceive the media as having a liberal bias. Additionally, far more Independents say the media is too liberal than too conservative, 50 percent vs. 12 percent.
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