The Proof

A new (2024) Ipsos study shows just how much our go-to news sources shape our perceptions of significant issues like inflation, crime, and immigration. People who mainly get their news from conservative outlets like Fox News are way more likely to have misconceptions about these topics than the general public. For example, they often have a skewed understanding of crime rates and the economy, which shapes their entire worldview.

This ties back to the whole rise of networks like Fox News, which was created to push back against what they saw as a liberal bias in mainstream media. However, instead of offering a truly balanced perspective, these outlets double down on a particular political angle. The Ipsos findings highlight how relying too much on these kinds of sources can seriously distort reality, where partisan narratives take priority over facts. It’s a reminder of how much selective media consumption shapes public opinion—and the way we all talk about these issues.

Take a look:

Takeaways:

Different news audiences focus on different problems:

Fox News and conservative media viewers are most worried about immigration (red dots). Nearly 40% of them say it’s the biggest issue.
People who watch national networks read newspapers, or follow mainstream media are more likely to be concerned about political extremism or threats to democracy (yellow dots).
Those who rely on online/local news or don’t have a strong media preference have a more even split between concerns about the economy (blue dots), immigration, and political extremism.
The general public (all respondents) doesn’t have one overwhelming issue—concerns are spread across all three.

Why Does This Matter?

This study is a great example of how where you get your news shapes what you see as the country's biggest problem.

Conservative-leaning audiences tend to focus on immigration, while those following mainstream media are more worried about political extremism. Meanwhile, economic concerns are shared across different groups but don’t dominate the conversation in any one media category.

Takeaways:

People who rely on cable/national newspapers (blue dots) were the most accurate across all questions, often scoring above 60-80% correct.
Fox News/conservative media viewers (red dots) consistently answered fewer questions correctly, often performing the worst on questions about inflation and crime.
Social media users and those without a strong media preference (purple dots) were in the middle, getting some answers right but not as consistently as cable/news readers.
Some of the biggest misinformation gaps appeared in crime and border crossings. For example, many Fox News viewers incorrectly believed violent crime was at an all-time high, even though it's false.
Inflation and stock market questions also showed a divide. People who get news from mainstream sources were more likely to correctly say inflation has declined and that the stock market is at or near all-time highs.

Why Does This Matter?

This chart highlights how news sources influence what people believe to be true. Conservative media audiences, on average, are more misinformed on key issues, particularly about crime, the economy, and immigration. Those who follow mainstream media tend to be more accurate, and social media users land somewhere in between.

Key Takeaways:

Conservative media viewers (red bars) were the least likely to say they’ve seen grocery or gas prices go down (only 9%) compared to 47% of cable/news viewers and 26% of the general public.
Fox News viewers were also the most likely to report financial struggles, with 54% saying they delayed a purchase due to lack of money (compared to 45% of all respondents).
Cable/news viewers (light blue bars) were the least likely to say they had to take on debt (14%) and the most likely to say they saw price drops in groceries and gas.
Social media/other audiences (purple) reported similar financial struggles to Fox viewers, especially in delaying purchases (51%) and missing bill payments (30%).

Why Does This Matter?

This suggests that news consumption impacts not just political opinions but also how people perceive the economy. Conservative media consumers are far less likely to notice price drops in gas and groceries, even if they’re happening. Meanwhile, those who follow cable or national news are more likely to acknowledge economic improvements and report fewer financial struggles overall.

Key Takeaways:

Conservative media consumers (red bars) are the most likely to hold misinformed views on crime, inflation, the stock market, and immigration. For example, those who incorrectly believe violent crime is at record highs are 26% more likely to vote Republican (R+26).
Viewers who answered correctly (blue bars)—meaning they have a fact-based understanding of these issues—overwhelmingly lean Democratic. Those who correctly know that crime is not at all-time highs are 65% more likely to vote for Harris (D+65).
Inflation perceptions are highly polarized—those who recognize inflation has declined lean Democratic by 53 points, while those who believe inflation is still rising lean Republican by 19 points.
Misconceptions about unauthorized border crossings also correlate with conservative voting. Those who incorrectly believe crossings are at record highs are 17% more likely to vote Republican (R+17).

Why Does This Matter?

This data reinforces how media consumption directly shapes public perception, often regardless of reality. Conservative media viewers, who are more exposed to fear-based narratives, are significantly more likely to believe falsehoods about crime, immigration, and the economy. As a result, they vote based on these inaccurate beliefs. Meanwhile, those who consume balanced or mainstream news sources are more likely to have fact-based views and vote accordingly.