The latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press has found overwhelming American dissatisfaction with the news media, with a rising number of people saying that the press is "too critical of America."
"Republicans increasingly express the view that the press is excessively critical of the United States," the survey said, with 67 percent agreeing with that statement, compared with 42 percent in July 2002.
About one-quarter of Democrats say the press is too critical, the same level as three years ago.
Any good will that the press earned after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, appears to have eroded.
In November 2001, 69 percent of all respondents said that the press stood up for America. Only 17 percent found it too critical. At the same time, 60 percent said the press did a good job of protecting democracy while only 19 percent said it was hurting democracy.
Now, only 47 percent say the press protects democracy and 33 percent say it hurts.