Fox News more trusted than any other network, according to terrifying poll

What is wrong with us?

Published March 9, 2015 8:00PM (EDT)

Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly         (Reuters/Fred Prouser/AP/Kathy Willens/Photo montage by Salon)
Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly (Reuters/Fred Prouser/AP/Kathy Willens/Photo montage by Salon)

A new poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found that Fox News is the most trusted news network in the country. The survey, which asked respondents to compare the trustworthiness of major network and cable news networks, found that 29 percent ranked Fox News first. CNN came in second at 22 percent, followed by CBS News and ABC News (both at 10 percent). ABC News and MSNBC received eight and seven percent of the vote, respectively.

These results are tempered when analyzed across party lines -- 58 percent of Republicans said they trusted Fox News the most, along with 25 percent of independent voters. The Democratic vote, however, was split. 32 percent trust CNN, 15 percent trust NBC News, while only 14 percent turn to CBS News or MSNBC.

To be sure, Fox News has conquered the ratings game, at least for now, coming in first overall in 2014, as well as in the first quarter of 2015, with "The O'Reilly Factor" demolishing other cable news shows. The network has even used its stellar ratings to deflect accusations that Bill O'Reilly fabricated a large number of frequently cited stories from his days as a reporter.

The poll also measured public support for O'Reilly as well as Brian Williams, who was recently suspended from his post as anchor of "NBC Nightly News" after lying about sustaining enemy fire in a helicopter in Iraq. 42 percent of respondents felt Williams should be allowed to return to his job, while only 12 percent of voters say O'Reilly should be fired.


By Joanna Rothkopf

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Bill O'reilly Cable News Cbs News Cnn Democrat Fox News Msnbc Nbc News Republican Trustworthiness