Political news fatigue/ AP-NORC poll results/ TV ratings post-election/ Americans limiting news/ media consumption trends/ NEW YORK/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Americans are tuning out political news following the 2024 election, with a new AP-NORC poll showing two-thirds feel the need to limit their media consumption. TV ratings reflect the trend, as CNN and MSNBC see significant post-election declines. Experts suggest this fatigue stems from mental exhaustion after a divisive campaign season, with viewers calling for deeper, more balanced reporting.
Americans Tune Out Political News: Quick Looks
- Key Findings:
- Two-thirds of Americans report feeling overwhelmed by political news.
- Post-election TV ratings for CNN and MSNBC plummeted by 45% and 54%, respectively.
- Fox News saw a 13% ratings boost, capturing 72% of evening cable news viewers post-election.
- Partisan Divide:
- 7 in 10 Democrats are stepping back from political news, compared to 6 in 10 Republicans.
- Democrats cite mental exhaustion, while Republicans celebrate Trump’s victory.
- What Viewers Want:
- Viewers demand more balanced, in-depth reporting and less focus on partisan conflict.
AP-NORC Poll: Americans Overwhelmed by Politics, Seeking a Break
Deep Look
Americans Exhausted by Political News
A December AP-NORC poll highlights a growing sense of fatigue among U.S. audiences, with two-thirds of adults saying they’ve felt the need to limit their consumption of political news. This trend is particularly pronounced among Democrats, 70% of whom report stepping back, while 60% of Republicans and independents share similar sentiments.
“People are mentally exhausted,” said Ziad Aunallah, a San Diego Democrat. “We all know what’s coming, and we’re taking some time off.”
TV Ratings Reflect Fatigue
Television ratings paint a similar picture. MSNBC and CNN, heavily associated with anti-Trump audiences, saw sharp declines in post-election viewership.
- MSNBC: Down 54% to 620,000 prime-time viewers.
- CNN: Down 45% to 405,000 prime-time viewers.
- Fox News: Up 13% to 2.68 million viewers, capturing 72% of the cable news audience post-election.
While post-election slumps are common for networks aligned with losing candidates, the severity of MSNBC’s decline is steeper than after the 2016 election.
Reasons Behind the Exodus
Several factors contribute to the declining interest in political news:
- Mental Fatigue: Prolonged exposure to divisive campaign coverage has left many Americans drained.
- Shift in Priorities: Viewers are exploring other content or turning to platforms like YouTube for news.
- Corporate Changes: MSNBC’s upcoming spin-off under Comcast raises questions about potential programming shifts.
Advice for Networks
Viewers who’ve tuned out political news have clear advice for networks hoping to win them back:
- Focus on Issues: “Stop talking about Trump,” said Sam Gude, an MSNBC viewer from Nebraska.
- Provide Balance: Kathleen Kendrick, an independent voter from Colorado, wants “both sides” and deeper research in news stories.
- Diversify Content: Aunallah criticized networks for focusing excessively on election coverage, leaving little to retain viewers afterward.
Historical Context and Future Trends
Historically, networks recover viewership when a new administration takes office, as audiences seek spaces to organize opposition or celebrate victories. However, the shift away from traditional cable TV and the growing popularity of alternative platforms may limit such rebounds.
Celebrity and Corporate Activism
The poll also found that Americans disapprove of political commentary from celebrities, large companies, and professional athletes, reflecting a broader desire to separate politics from other aspects of public life.
Methodology
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,251 adults from Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. The margin of error is ±3.7 percentage points.
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