According to a new Hill-Harris X poll released Monday, one-third of Americans consider the media an “enemy of the people.”
The widest discrepancy in the new poll can be seen between Republicans and Democrats, with 51% of Republicans answering they thought of the press as an enemy. In contrast, only 14% of Democrats answered the same.
The most shocking result, to some, comes from Independents, with 35% saying they too thought of the press as an enemy of the people.
Among those surveyed, respondents were most closely divided on the issue in rural areas. Forty-six percent of rural Americans said they believed the news media to be the "enemy of the people," compared with 54 percent of those who said the news media is a crucial part of democracy.
This latest development should be of some concern for those in the press, along with those interested in maintaining a proper political system. The press, long known as the fourth estate or an informal check on government, must maintain some degree of trust among the American people if it is to do its prescribed job effectively.
If Americans who see the press as enemies continues to grow, our system of governance is only harmed, as reports of corruption and overreach may fall on deaf ears.