Americans say nearly two-thirds of news outlets are biased, almost half of news is inaccurate: poll

A new Gallup poll shows Americans believe 62 percent of news outlets – print, television, and radio – are biased. People believe a majority of the news is accurate, but they still believe about 44 percent is inaccurate, according to the poll.

The survey asked 1,440 Gallup panel members to delve into “exactly how much problematic information” appears in traditional news outlets and on social media.

Thirty-nine percent of the news is comprised of misinformation, meaning it’s presented as true but is either false or misleading, according to those surveyed. And 65 percent of news on social media is seen as misinformation.

How do Republicans and Democrats differ on news?

Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided about the accuracy and bias of certain news organizations, particularly for Fox News, Breitbart News, CNN, and MSNBC, according to the Gallup website.

The poll found that Republicans believe 15 of the 17 major news sources are biased and that most news organizations are also inaccurate. In contrast, Democrats believe all but two major news organizations are accurate and most news outlets are biased but not inaccurate.

According to the poll:

Of 17 major newspapers, network or cable news stations, or internet news sites evaluated in the survey, Republicans see all but two — Fox News and The Wall Street Journal — as biased. And Republicans were about evenly divided as to whether Fox and The Wall Street Journal are biased or unbiased.

Republicans also see most news organizations as inaccurate rather than accurate, with Fox being a notable exception. In contrast, Democrats think all of the major news organizations, other than Fox and Breitbart News, are accurate. Democrats believe more news outlets are biased than inaccurate."

Also, 71 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Republicans believe the spread of inaccurate information online is "a major problem," according to the website.

Anything else?

Other findings from the survey show that U.S. adults believe about 80 percent of news on social media is biased and 64 percent of news on social media is inaccurate.

More than eight in 10 people reported feeling “angry or bothered” when they see biased information. More than nine in 10 reported feeling the same way about inaccurate information.