Out of all the countries in the free world, the United States media now ranks the lowest with it’s people. Americans have more-and-more veered away from traditional, mainstream news sources which has resulted in plummeting ratings for the “Fake News” outlets who routinely espouse their liberal biases.
It’s not looking goof for CNN, MSNBC, and others who purport fairness and balance in their coverage, but according to a study the Digital News Report, the American people do not agree.
Of 29 free nations surveyed in the Digital News Report 2021, U.S. “trust” in the media ranked 46th of 46.
Cable TV news ranked the lowest, according to a report from Oxford University Study of Journalism. The 150+ page report detailed American’s distrust in outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox, noting suspicion of media outlets has never reached these levels in the history of the free world.
The study examined nations who report to consume the most media around the world. Some nations were not included, such as China and Russia, due to the state control placed on their media coverage.
Since President Trump left office, news consumption has taken a complete nose dive, and the “Fake News” outlets are feeling the financial strain. Over 30,000 jobs were lost in news and print media in 2020 alone.
The report noted that the 2016 “Trump Bump” helped mainstream media outlets immensely. With their constant coverage of him they were able to gain an exorbitant amount of viewers and readers, which helped greatly increased their revenues. The study also noted that since Trump’s exit from the White House, viewers are largely tuning out, expressing their overwhelming disinterest the Joe Biden adn the goings on of his radical administration.
Especially with right-leaning groups, viewership in mainstream news has hit an all-time low. Political engagement, however, does remain high in the country but many are accessing current events from other, more independent sources, some even avoiding the news altogether. Since the election of Joe Biden, interest in the liberal bias so prevalent in the media has fallen sharply.
Other free countries have stayed away from television and print news as well, citing the depressing state of the coronavirus pandemic. However, in the United States, it remains that Trump is the lynch pin that’s driven Americans away from cable news networks.
The study also blamed the focus on the 2020 summer of race riots that highlighted the lack of racial and political diversity in the news media and concerns that groups are not covered fairly by the mostly white and liberal media.
Author: Nolan Sheridan
