• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, August 20, 2025

The public is more in tune with classic journalistic values than some observers might think, judging by a new study from Pew Research: How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age.

Of 9,397 consumers from Pew’s American Trends Panel, 59% say newshounds who conduct their own reporting on current events are indeed journalists, versus 22% who disagree.  

But only 36% feel that someone who compiles and shares other people’s reporting is a journalist. And a mere 28% say the same about a writer who offers opinions or commentary.

The most important traits shown by journalists are less entertainment value and more about: 

• Honesty — 93%
• Intelligence — 89% 
• Authenticity — 82%
• Kindness — 66%
• Humor — 35%
• Charisma — 33%
• Popularity — 11%

Readers are also selective about where journalists work. A journalist is one who: 

• Writes for a newspaper or news website — 79% 
• Reports on or hosts a TV news show — 65% 
• Reports on or hosts a radio news show — 59% 
• Reports on or hosts a news podcast — 46%
• Reports their own newsletter about news — 40%
• Makes their own videos or posts about news on social media — 26% 

However, 59% believe journalists are losing influence in society, while 15% say they are gaining and 36% do not believe either is true. 

On the positive side, majorities say journalists are intelligent (63%) and well-intentioned (58%). But 58% also believe they are biased, a view that is more widely held by Republicans (74%) than Democrats (45%). 

At the same time, 53% of Republicans believe journalists are elitist, compared to 27% of Democrats. And 51% of Republicans view them as dishonest, versus 19% of Democrats.  

But more Republicans see them as intelligent (77%) than Democrats (50%). And GOP voters are more likely to see them as reliable by a margin of 58% to 37%.  

There is little support for journalists expressing their political views when reporting — 56% are against it, and even fewer approve of it when they do it in social media. 

And 57% do not care to see journalists share their religious beliefs.