Poll: 62 Percent Trust Traditional Media Less Because of Fake News

Almost two-thirds of people say they trust traditional media less because of fake news, according to an Edelman Trust Barometer poll reported Thursday by Axios.

Breaking down the result by party affiliation:

• 75 percent of Republicans said fake news has decreased their trust.
• 62 percent of independents said fake news has decreased their trust.
• 50 percent of Democrats said fake news has decreased their trust.

Describing their beliefs about fake news, a majority of Republicans see fake news as biased or sloppy reporting:

• 57 percent of Republicans believe fake news is biased or sloppy reporting by news organizations, while 38 percent of Democrats and 53 percent of independents share that view.
• 32 percent of Republicans believe fake news is an insult to discredit news stories that are unfavorable to a certain party, while 47 percent of Democrats and 36 percent of independents believe that.
• 33 percent of Republicans believe fake news is Democrats' dirty political trick compared to only 9 percent of Democrats and 12 percent of independents share that belief.
• 9 percent of Republicans believe fake news is a Republican political trick, while 25 percent of Democrats and 12 percent of independents believe the same.
• 12 percent of Republicans believe fake news is Russia's weapon to disrupt the U.S. 19 percent of Democrats and 14 percent of independents share that view.
• 8 percent of Republicans believe fake news is not a real problem, a belief shared by 10 percent of Democrats and 14 percent of independents.

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