The nation’s partisan divide is evident when People are requested about what needs to be carried out to assist the nation’s struggling native information business. Whereas two-thirds of Democrats say, information organizations in want ought to have the ability to obtain authorities or private funding as a way to survive, only 17 % of Republicans feel the identical approach, in response to research launched Sunday by Gallup and the Knight Basis. For independents, 37 p. C again such funding.
Republicans are additionally extra prone to take a sink-or-swim perspective towards the press. Whereas 72 p.c of Democrats say native newspapers are essential and must be preserved even when they’re failing financially, 76 % of Republicans say they’re identical to some other enterprise and if they can’t hack it, tough luck.
“It’s not shocking to me to see the extent of polarization normally shading most individuals’ views towards something to do with the media,” mentioned Sam Gill, vice president for communities and affect and particular adviser to the president on the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Republicans are more likely to view the media as hostile and biased, together with having a deep-seated suspicion towards authorities’ involvement in the public discourse, he stated.
Essential information has suffered over the previous 20 years as readers and advertisers discovered alternate options on-line. More significant than 2,000 native newspapers in America have closed since 2004, according to the University of North Carolina. One barrier towards halting that trend is a lack of public awareness: The Knight/Gallup study discovered that 56 % of Americans wrongly consider that native information organizations are doing well financially. There are positive indicators. The survey discovered that almost six in 10 People consider newspapers an essential image of civic pride. Eighty-six % of these polled said everyone should have access to crucial information.
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