Poll: Most Say Media Encourages Political Division
source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101019/el_yblog_upshot/poll-majority-say-media-encour...
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- TimALoftis
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As the 2010 election winds down, a majority of Americans say the media, both partisan and nonpartisan, encourages political division more than it does cooperation.
Just 30 percent of respondents believe the mainstream media is interested in political cooperation, according to a new ABC News/ Yahoo! News poll; 63 percent say reporters help stoke division.
Journalists have long been criticized for chasing after scandals and controversy. But the poll is noteworthy for showing just how much the public considers the media a factor in creating the current divisiveness in American politics.
Partisan talkers didn't fare much better than mainstream reporters. Conservative radio hosts also clocked in at 30 percent in terms of cooperation, with 61 percent saying they help foster division. Cable news programs came in at 29 percent for cooperation, 59 percent for division.
The national media and talk show hosts shouldn't feel too bad, though. Americans are just as likely to say their political leaders are fomenting political division.
Forty-four percent said Democrats in Congress sought cooperation. Just 31 percent said the same about Republicans.
One surprising finding was that President Obama--whom voters tend to see as a polarizing figure on either side of the ideological divide--got a majority of respondents agreeing that he was interested in political cooperation, at 59 percent. Sarah Palin and the tea party movement polled at 34 percent and 31 percent on the same question, respectively.
The ABC News/Yahoo News! poll was based on a random sample of 1,025 adults and was conducted Oct. 6 to Oct. 12.
Just 30 percent of respondents believe the mainstream media is interested in political cooperation, according to a new ABC News/ Yahoo! News poll; 63 percent say reporters help stoke division.
Journalists have long been criticized for chasing after scandals and controversy. But the poll is noteworthy for showing just how much the public considers the media a factor in creating the current divisiveness in American politics.
Partisan talkers didn't fare much better than mainstream reporters. Conservative radio hosts also clocked in at 30 percent in terms of cooperation, with 61 percent saying they help foster division. Cable news programs came in at 29 percent for cooperation, 59 percent for division.
The national media and talk show hosts shouldn't feel too bad, though. Americans are just as likely to say their political leaders are fomenting political division.
Forty-four percent said Democrats in Congress sought cooperation. Just 31 percent said the same about Republicans.
One surprising finding was that President Obama--whom voters tend to see as a polarizing figure on either side of the ideological divide--got a majority of respondents agreeing that he was interested in political cooperation, at 59 percent. Sarah Palin and the tea party movement polled at 34 percent and 31 percent on the same question, respectively.
The ABC News/Yahoo News! poll was based on a random sample of 1,025 adults and was conducted Oct. 6 to Oct. 12.
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timetide
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who would say that sarah palin and the eta party is even 34% and 31% cooperative.... o wait the same people who said people like rush are after cooperation
- 1 year ago
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timetide
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TimALoftis
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FTA: 'Forty-four percent said Democrats in Congress sought cooperation. Just 31 percent said the same about Republicans.
One surprising finding was that President Obama got a majority of respondents agreeing that he was interested in political cooperation, at 59 percent. Sarah Palin and the tea party movement polled at 34 percent and 31 percent on the same question, respectively.
- 1 year ago
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TimALoftis
