Toplines - Media and the Economy - July 16, 2008

National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
Conducted July 16, 2008
By Rasmussen Reports

1* Despite current difficulties, does the United States still have the best economy in the world?

34% Yes

52% No

14% Not sure

2* When covering economic issues, do most reporters and media outlets try to make the economy seem worse than it really is, better than it really is, or do they present an accurate picture of the economy?

50% Worse than it really is

18% Better than it really is

25% They present and accurate picture

7% Not sure

3* Who do you trust the most when it comes to news on the economy—reporters or stockbrokers?

34% Reporters

32% Stockbrokers

34% Not sure

4* Do most reporters and media outlets view American society as generally fair and decent or do they see it as basically unfair and discriminatory?

39% Generally fair and decent

44% Basically unfair and discriminatory

18% Not sure

5* Okay… When covering the war in Iraq, do most reporters and media outlets try to make the War in Iraq seem worse than it really is, better than it really is, or do they present an accurate picture of the War in Iraq?

41% Worse than it really is

26% Better than it really is

25% They present and accurate picture

8% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence