Distrust of Washington and Media Grows Since 2016 Election

AUSTIN, Texas - More Americans not only distrust the federal government, but also distrust the news media since the 2016 election. Those are some of the findings in a new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin , which showed that 49 percent of Americans believe Washington will do what is right "hardly ever or never," compared with 45 percent one year ago. Additionally, the percentage of Americans who check the accuracy of news "all or most of the time" has increased to 38 percent from 24 percent a year ago, and the percentage of Americans who perceived a liberal bias in the news media has increased to 42 percent from 35 percent. The Texas Media and Society Survey , conducted by researchers at the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life in the Moody College of Communication , sampled more than 1,000 Americans and 1,000 Texans. The survey was first conducted in June 2016 and again in June 2017. Researchers found that despite an increased perception of bias, the public believes the news media are doing a better job of holding elected officials accountable. Sixty-seven percent of Americans agreed that the news media "need to do more to hold political candidates or elected officials accountable," compared with 74 percent one year ago.