Rasmussen: Just 4 Pct. of Americans Trust Reporters More Than Themselves on What's Good for America

Do you have trust in reporters? If so, you are one of the few in America, according to a new Rasmussen report released today.

Only four percent of Americans trust reporters' judgment in matters concerning what's good for the country, the survey reports.

Here is the text of its report:

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 85 percent of U.S. voters trust their own judgment more than the average reporter when it comes to the important issues affecting the nation. Only four percent trust the average reporter more. Eleven percent aren’t sure.

Ninety percent or more of voters ages 40 to 64 trust themselves more than the average reporter.

In part, this is because just 23 percent of all voters say the average reporter is about the same as they are ideologically. Fifty-three percent think the average reporter is more liberal than they are, while 16 percent say more conservative.

Two-out-of-three voters (67 percent) say most reporters when covering a political campaign try to help the candidate they want to win. Just 21 percent say most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage. These findings are identical to those found throughout last fall’s presidential campaign.

Just before last November’s election, for example, 68 percent of voters said most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win, and 51 percent believed they were trying to help Democrat Barack Obama. Just seven percent thought they were trying to help his Republican opponent, John McCain.

Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party overwhelmingly say most reporters try to help the candidate they favor. Democrats are more closely divided: 32 percent say most reporters try to be unbiased, while 47 percent say they try to help the candidate they want to win.

Similarly, 79 percent of GOP voters and 59 percent of unaffiliateds believe most reporters are more liberal than they are. Democratic voters, are evenly split between those who say most reporters are more liberal or more conservative. A plurality of Democrats (44 percent) say reporters are about the same ideologically.

Three-out-of-four Americans (74 percent) trust their own judgment more than that of the average member of Congress when it comes to economic issues facing the nation.

But then 51 percent of voters say Congress is too liberal while 22 percent hold the opposite view and say it is too conservative. Fourteen percent (14 percent) say the ideological balance of Congress is about right. ...

Forty-three percent (43 percent) of Americans have a favorable opinion of journalists, while 54 percent view them unfavorably. Adults rank them fifth out of a list of nine professions that Rasmussen Reports periodically surveys on. Being a member of Congress is the least respected job.