The fake news phenomenon has accentuated the political divide in America, and conservatives blame the liberal media.
President Donald Trump has been urging his followers not to trust the “dishonest media” due to the critical coverage that plagued his presidential campaign. At a recent rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Trump continued his attack: “We will never be intimidated by the dishonest media corporations who will say anything and do anything to get people to watch their screens or to get people to buy their failing papers.”
Pew Research Center has been tracking public attitudes toward the media, and a recent poll revealed that the view of the role of the press as a valid government watchdog has reached its greatest partisan divide over the last two decades. A 2016 Gallup Poll found that only 14% of Republicans expressed trust in the media, down from 32% in 2015 — a drop the pollster calls a “new low.”
So, what are the fundamental issues Trump supporters have with mainstream media? To get insight on this question, VICE News’ Evan McMorris-Santoro set up a “Tell Me Why You Hate The Media” booth at Trump’s Iowa rally in order to get perspectives from his supporters.
The answers consisted primarily of pointing out how the liberal media seems to have a problem with Republicans. People explained how coverage tends to impose a negative view on conservative values and paints them as unintelligent, racist, homophobic, xenophobic and biased in their political views. Many did not approve of the emphasis in the news cycle on topics such as the FBI investigation into the Trump administration’s alleged ties to Russia, climate change or issues unrelated to the plight of average Americans.
With the lines vaguely demarcated between fact and “alternative facts,” the bottom line is that the dialogue and a basis for mutual understanding between America’s main parties only continues to grow more distant with every news story.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.
Photo Credit: GoodLifeStudio
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