Public trust in the US media is eroding and increasing numbers of Americans believe news coverage is inaccurate and biased, according to a study released recently by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. In fact, the report finds that the public's assessment of the accuracy of news stories is now at its lowest level in more than two decades. 

When the center began studying public sentiment regarding journalism in 1985, over half (55%) said that news stories were accurate. That number has dropped to less than a third (29%), revealing a tremendous loss in confidence in the news that people receive on a daily basis. 

Well over half of the respondents to the latest survey (60%) believe that news organizations are politically biased. In addition, the number of people who believe that news organizations are credible watchdogs outside the influence of powerful people and organizations has dropped to an all-time low of 20%. 

Even though the public has become more critical of how news organizations do their jobs, local television news, network news, and newspapers continue to receive favorable reviews. 

Interestingly, both the Republican and the Democrat parties are regarding the news media unfavorably. While Republicans have traditionally derided major media as having a liberal bias, there seems to be an increase in negative attitudes toward the press on the Democratic side as well. 

Television remains the dominant news source for the public, while the Internet continues to gain market share over newspapers and radio. The only area in which newspapers continue to outperform the Web is in local news. 

In order for the media to regain the role of a trusted independent watchdog, it must shed the labels and affiliations that create a partisan appearance.