Opinion on political bias in news U.S. 2022, by political affiliation

According to a survey conducted in the United States in summer 2022, 79 percent of Republican respondents felt that news coverage had a great deal of political bias, making these voters the most likely to hold this opinion of the news media. Independents also felt strongly about this issue, whereas only 33 percent of Democrats said they saw a great deal of political bias in news.

How politics affects news consumption

Political bias in news can alienate consumers and may also be poorly received when coverage of a non-political topic leans too heavily towards one end of the spectrum. However, at the same time, personal politics in general are often closely interlinked with how a consumer perceives or engages with news and information. A clear example of this can be found when looking at political news sources used weekly in the U.S., with Republicans and Democrats opting for the national networks they most identify with. But what if audiences cannot find the content they want?

A change in behavior

Engaging with news aligning with one’s politics is not uncommon. That said, perceived bias in mainstream media may lead some consumers to look elsewhere and turn away from more “neutral” outlets if they believe the news is no longer partisan. Data shows that a number of leading conservative websites registered a substantial increase in visitors year over year. Looking at this data in context of Republicans’ concern about bias in political news, it is likely that this trend will continue and consumers will pursue outlets they feel resonate with them most.