A Divisive Fourth Estate: How Partisan Media is Fracturing Public Trust in the U.S Election
By Tony Onyima, Ph.D.
In the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, America’s media landscape has increasingly become a battleground where journalistic standards are clashing with partisanship, sensationalism, and agenda-setting. As traditional standards of balanced reporting and fact-checking are sidelined, a polarised media environment leaves many citizens disillusioned and distrustful, undermining the very foundations of democracy. Across the spectrum, from cable news to digital outlets, the role of the press in amplifying partisanship is impacting public trust in consequential and alarming ways.
Two clear examples of media polarisation can be found in Fox News’s and MSNBC’s contrasting coverage, where programming reflects an ideological divide and a growing entrenchment of echo chambers. Fox News, known for its conservative stance, aligns closely with Republican perspectives, particularly in opinion programming, with commentators like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham voicing strong support for GOP policies. On the opposite side, MSNBC, through hosts like Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell, offers an equally partisan view, often presenting Republican policies as threats to democratic norms. This alignment of networks with ideological viewpoints exemplifies a move toward advocacy journalism, where viewers are presented with narratives rather than a balanced understanding of events.
According to a Pew Research Center study from August 2022, around 80% of Americans now view media bias as a “major problem” facing the country. This perception has led to a near-historic low in public trust in the press; a 2023 Gallup report found that fewer than one in four Americans expressed “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in news outlets. These findings highlight the discontent with an increasingly partisan press, as citizens turn away from traditional media, wary of narratives that seem crafted to fit ideological moulds rather than reflect objective realities.
The media’s approach to sensitive topics, such as election security and voting laws, is one of the most striking examples of its influence on public discourse. Leading up to November 5, outlets like CNN and The New York Times have scrutinised Republican-backed voting laws in battleground states, framing them as part of a broader effort to restrict voting access. While these criticisms have a basis, the framing often lacks nuance, dismissing concerns about election security and leaving little room for a balanced discussion. Meanwhile, conservative outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, have minimised these voter suppression claims, sometimes framing them as exaggerated rhetoric from the left. This binary approach to complex issues risks leaving the public with a distorted view, further polarising voters and feeding mistrust on both sides.
Adding to this divisive media environment is the role of social media, which allows partisan content to circulate without traditional checks and balances. A 2024 Media Matters for America report highlighted how misinformation amplified by echo chambers on Facebook, Twitter, and Truth Social has heightened polarisation. Such content is frequently shared within ideologically similar groups, shaping public opinion without a balanced or comprehensive view of critical issues.
Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky’s landmark work Manufacturing Consent (1988) argued that corporate and political interests often shape media content to influence public opinion. This notion remains highly relevant in today’s landscape, where both major media outlets and alternative digital platforms amplify polarised narratives, reinforcing entrenched political beliefs rather than providing a shared foundation for civic engagement. As media outlets trade objectivity for loyalty, they inadvertently legitimise the ideological divides they claim to cover, further fragmenting public trust.
In the lead-up to November 5, the American public must recognise the role of the media in shaping election discourse. Rather than fostering informed debate, today’s media often prioritises partisan narratives that impede unity and diminish citizens’ trust. A return to unbiased, fact-based reporting is not just preferable but essential. To maintain its role as a guardian of democracy, the American media must transcend ideological divides and strive to provide a broad spectrum of verified, balanced information, fostering a well-informed citizenry equipped to make sound decisions. Only by restoring its commitment to objectivity can the Fourth Estate hope to rebuild its trust with the public and sustain the democratic processes it was meant to serve.
