A survey found that 73 percent of American adults find it important for journalists to act as watchdogs over politicians, although there was a divergence of opinion when considering the political affiliation of the participants. Republicans were less inclined to find the watchdog role to be important, with 36 percent of Republicans surveyed stating it was not important, compared to just 15 percent of Democrats.
Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation
respondents who did not give an answer are not shown
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Question: Thinking beyond the current political environment, do you think that it is important or not important for journalists to serve as watchdogs over elected leaders?
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Pew Research Center. (February 26, 2020). Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center. "Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation ." Chart. February 26, 2020. Statista. Accessed November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center. (2020). Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation . Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center. "Importance of Journalists Serving as Watchdogs over Elected Leaders According to Adults in The United States as of November 2019, by Political Affiliation ." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Feb 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center, Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/ (last visited November 17, 2024)
Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation [Graph], Pew Research Center, February 26, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
