I Think; Therefore it’s News! The Convergence of Opinions versus Facts on Cable News Networks

Abstract

Research shows that Americans have a difficult time separating fact from opinion. This can lead to misunderstanding, sharing of false information on social media, and a loss of faith in reporting. This paper examined newscasts on the three most popular U.S. cable news channels (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC) from 2008 to 2018. While the study did not find the amount of opinions rose consistently, or on all networks, there were some statistically significant changes, especially with CNN. The research also noted that by using specific techniques, the consistent reliance on opinions in a newscast can easily confuse viewers from telling fact from commentary.