Americans are generally distrusting of reporters’ motives and agendas. A majority (53%) of Americans think most reporters have a personal or political agenda, although more than four in ten (43%) believe that most reporters try to report the news fairly and accurately.

White Americans are more likely than nonwhite Americans to believe that reporters are motivated by personal and political biases. While nearly six in ten (57%) white Americans say that most reporters have a personal or political agenda, only about four in ten Hispanic (40%) and black (38%) Americans say the same.

There is a stark partisan gap in perceptions of reporter’s motivations. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of Democrats say that most reporters try to report the news fairly and accurately, while only 17% of Republicans agree. Roughly eight in ten (79%) Republicans believe reporters are influenced by their personal or political agendas.