Pew Research: 51% of Republicans View Journalists as Dishonest, Compared to 19% of Democrats

Washington, D.C. – A new survey by the Pew Research Center reveals a significant partisan divide in how Americans perceive journalists, with Republicans and Republican-leaning independents far more likely to describe them using negative terms. The study, conducted in April 2025, highlights a stark contrast in views between the two major political affiliations regarding the integrity and character of the media profession. The findings underscore persistent polarization in public attitudes towards journalism.

Specifically, 51% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe "dishonest" describes most journalists well, a sharp contrast to just 19% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Similarly, 51% of Republicans consider journalists "elitist," compared to 29% of Democrats. This significant divergence extends to other negative traits, with 74% of Republicans, versus 45% of Democrats, viewing journalists as "biased."

Conversely, Democrats are notably more inclined to associate positive characteristics with journalists. For instance, 77% of Democrats find journalists "intelligent," while only 50% of Republicans share this view. Overall confidence in journalists to act in the public's best interest remains below half for the general U.S. adult population, standing at 45%. While Democratic confidence in journalists has seen a slight decrease to 62% in April 2025 from 70% in 2020, Republican confidence has marginally risen from 23% to 27% in the same period.

The survey also indicates a widespread public perception that journalists are losing influence in society, a view held by 49% of Americans, significantly more than the 15% who believe their influence is growing. Despite this, a majority of Americans (59%) still consider journalists "extremely or very important" to the well-being of society. This sense of importance is more strongly felt by Democrats (73%) than by Republicans (45%).

Americans largely prioritize honesty (93%) and accuracy (84%) from their news providers. However, there is less consensus on whether journalists should advocate for communities or express personal opinions. A majority of 56% believe journalists are often unable to separate their personal views from their reporting, a sentiment particularly pronounced among Republicans, with 74% holding this belief compared to 39% of Democrats.

These findings are based on a comprehensive survey of 9,397 U.S. adults conducted by the Pew Research Center from April 14 to 20, 2025. The study, titled "How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age," aims to provide deeper insights into the evolving role of journalists and public expectations in today's complex media landscape.