• by December 13, 2019

President Donald Trump has complained about unfair treatment by the news media since the early days of his campaign. While journalists despair at being described by the president as an "enemy of the people," the message resonates with people who are most likely to vote for him.

Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say journalists have very low ethical standards, according to a study published on Thursday.

Almost one-third of Republicans or people who lean toward the GOP question the ethics of journalists, compared with only 5% of Democrats or Democratic leaners, Pew Research Center found in a survey.

Among Republicans, Trump's most ardent supporters are even more likely to have a bad opinion about the news media. Forty percent of Republicans who say they "strongly approve" of Trump also say that journalists have low ethical standards, compared with only 12% of Republicans who strongly or somewhat disapprove of the president.

Going into the 2020 election, it's hard to imagine Trump will let up on the press as he aims to fire up his base, which includes many people who justifiably see the media as politically biased. I hope the rhetoric doesn't go too far, considering the free press is under siege almost everywhere you look.

By the same token, I'm sure the press will survive Trump's attacks. I'm also optimistic it will adapt to changing market forces that have led to a plunge in readership and revenue, alongside massive job losses.

While the transition has been painful for many people in the journalism profession, there is still huge demand for news and information. Publishers will find a way.