Pew Research Poll: 68 percent of Americans support media’s watchdog role, up 10% from 2011; newspapers decline as major news source; internet news sleuths more skeptical of traditionally dominant media

A new poll from the Pew Research center released today indicates that 68 percent of Americans say press criticism of political leaders keeps them from doing things that should not be done, while just 21 percent say press criticism keeps leaders from doing their job.  Support for the media’s watchdog role has risen 10 points since 2011.

The poll shows that print newspapers are declining as a major source for news. Internet, Television, and Radio have all made gains as preferred major news sources since 2011.

According to the Pew Center for the People and the Press, internet news consumers are more critical of historically dominant news sources, quote, “Those who get most of their news online are 18 points more likely than those who don’t use the internet for news to say the press spends too much time on unimportant stories. Internet news users also are 17 points more likely to say that news organizations are often influenced by powerful people and 16 points more likely to say the press tend to favor one side.” end quote