Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation
Characteristic
Not important to serve as watchdogs
Important to serve as watchdogs
Total adults
25%
73%
Republican/ Lean Rep
36%
61%
Democrat/ Lean Dem
15%
83%
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respondents who did not give an answer are not shown
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Question: Thinking beyond the current political environment, do you think that it is important or not important for journalists to serve as watchdogs over elected leaders?
Citation formats
Value of journalists acting as watchdogs in the U.S. 2020, by politics
A survey found that 73 percent of American adults find it important for journalists to act as watchdogs over politicians, although there was a divergence of opinion when considering the political affiliation of the participants. Republicans were less inclined to find the watchdog role to be important, with 36 percent of Republicans surveyed stating it was not important, compared to just 15 percent of Democrats.
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Pew Research Center. (February 26, 2020). Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from /statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center. "Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation ." Chart. February 26, 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 29, 2026. /statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center. (2020). Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation . ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 29, 2026. /statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center. "Importance of Journalists Serving as Watchdogs over Elected Leaders According to Adults in The United States as of November 2019, by Political Affiliation ." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 26 Feb 2020, /statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
Pew Research Center, Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/ (last visited July 29, 2026)
Importance of journalists serving as watchdogs over elected leaders according to adults in the United States as of November 2019, by political affiliation [Graph], Pew Research Center, February 26, 2020. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1129910/value-of-journalists-as-watchdogs-us/
