April 29, 2009
Posted: April 29th, 2009 09:23 PM ET
A new national poll suggests that Americans think the media's coverage of the White House and Congress deserves a grade of C.
A new national poll suggests that Americans think the media's coverage of the White House and Congress deserves a grade of C.

(CNN) - A new national poll suggests that Americans think the media's coverage of the White House and Congress deserves a grade of C.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday, as the Obama administration marks 100 days in office, asked respondents to use a grading scale of A, B, C, D and F, where A is excellent and F is very poor.

Eighteen percent of those questioned gave the media's reporting of President Obama and Congress an A, 28 percent a B, 22 percent a C, 12 percent a D and 20 percent a F. The grade for the media's performance averaged out to a C.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted April 23-26, with 2,019 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus two percentage points.

Filed under: CNN National Report Card


Demo no mas   April 29th, 2009 10:55 pm ET

I check out the British and German news every morning to discern what's really happening, then read what the US slant is for entertainment. Where in Hades is Cronkite?

M Nehrenz   April 29th, 2009 10:54 pm ET

Very disappointing. The media is not interested in presenting unbiased views or the news, they are much too busy inventing and spinning....Do we really care what any of you think? You are more out of touch with everyday people then the politicians! We have the party agendas, then we have the media agendas. I don't want speculation, I want facts. I thought that was what reporting and journalism was about! The media creates panic at every turn. Where is the integrity?

MrWright   April 29th, 2009 10:51 pm ET

Most media coverage is terrible, and seems to be getting worse and worse. Doesn't just one lonely, right wing, guy own all the major news outlets now? I believe that (aside from independent sources) fair, unbiased and objective reporting are over. ABC is far LEFT while FOX is far right. CNN has been my go to news but I continue to watch with an open mind. I do appreciate CNN's interactive news as well as the hologram usage. That effect was pretty cool.

Greg -Palm Springs, CA

Judith Pittillo   April 29th, 2009 10:50 pm ET

Lou Dobbs is certainly not an Obama supporter. Have seen one of his stupid poll questions that assume we are stupid enough not to recognize the bias in the questions. Really!

Judith Pittillo   April 29th, 2009 10:49 pm ET

Bill Moyer and Charlie Rose of PBS seem to have the most insightful people on their programs.

Steve Dankner   April 29th, 2009 10:48 pm ET

Your aphorism "Best Political Team on Television" pat on the back is self-serving. Lose the narcissism.

Judith Pittillo   April 29th, 2009 10:48 pm ET

Loou Dobbs is certainly not an Obama supporter. Have seen one of his stupid poll questions that assume we are stupid enough not to recognize the bias in the questions. Really!

cary   April 29th, 2009 10:44 pm ET

D-

Fox News is completely distorted to the point of being laughable. Ed Henry's questions are not doing CNN any favors. John King isn't either.

deb   April 29th, 2009 10:43 pm ET

I strongly agree with WESTCOASTER comments above!!!!!!!!

David Adrean   April 29th, 2009 10:39 pm ET

When your News Team says write in your Grade for Obama's Speech and you search Obama's Speech grade nothing is found

alvino   April 29th, 2009 10:37 pm ET

Fox News has rplaced the Daily Show as best comedy news.

A. Darton   April 29th, 2009 10:36 pm ET

Grade the media, D-, specially CNN's Ed Henry. Fox news, to heck with them!!!!

Debby   April 29th, 2009 10:26 pm ET

F especially CNN for being the Obama News Network.

LouiseR   April 29th, 2009 10:24 pm ET

Listening to CNN tonight on the 100 days of The President has been good but I have a comment to make on one of the panel sitting and making comments and giving their opinions..I thought Stephen Hayes was vary negative on most of the questions..He did not impress me in the least..

Fitz in Texas   April 29th, 2009 10:24 pm ET

I use to, but no longer watch NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN OR MSNBC because I want the truth therefore I watch Fox News.

Gary   April 29th, 2009 10:21 pm ET

The media loves Obama, they don't challenge him, they don't cover issues in a balanced way. The media gets an F.

Carole   April 29th, 2009 10:21 pm ET

C- due to Ed seems to go to the Presidential briefings with that 'gotcha' mentality. Campbell and John can't hide their prejudice.

Otherwise, okay. Not what it used to be. I used to watch CNN faithfully, but mix it with MSNBC more and more.

Copeland Foote   April 29th, 2009 10:09 pm ET

C+

Reynolds' family   April 29th, 2009 10:08 pm ET

We're so proud of our President , he is very intelligent and work hard for our country. We wish that our government on both sides must work together to get the country going,, they must work with our President if they care about our country.
The Reynolds' family

Westcoaster   April 29th, 2009 10:07 pm ET

I always get a sense of an undertone while watching the political commentary on CNN - it's as if some of you are watching and waiting (albeit with excitement) for the President to fail so you can all rush around and figure out your positions and your editorials. I get kind of sick of it really. I think a lot of you can't really stand it that the Americans overall have given a black man the vote and he continues to astonish people with his resilience and calm, well spoken manner. I don't like you, really I don't.

the media is not doing its job   April 29th, 2009 10:07 pm ET

the perks must be very attractive

none of the presidents have had the kind of media coverage they should have

jim carroll internetfreepress.com   April 29th, 2009 10:07 pm ET

Inflation is an euphemism for theft.

Mark Anthony Adams   April 29th, 2009 10:07 pm ET

The media overall gets a B-, but those over at Fox KKK News who call themselves the "fair and balanced" media gets a justifiable F-

I can only wish that their was such a grade lower than a F

Helen Vega   April 29th, 2009 10:06 pm ET

I think the media is the most responsible for the fall out of this nation. No where else does the media treat so mean their President. I think That President Obama has been treated very unfair buy the media. He is not perfect, but I think he has done much better than other Presidents.
I know that even though the media denies it, it has to do because he is african-american. I am Puerto Rican so I know what I am talking about. No matter how hard he tries he will always be looked down on by the media. We still have a serious race problem in this nation whether we want to believe it or not. I worked for the federal goverment and I know how things are.
One of the things that I am really upset at the government is that they keep on letting the banks (the biggest thieves in the world) get away with murder. They are a bunch of crooks and should be behind bars
( not a fancy jail, but the worst ones in america). If I stole a pear, I would put away maybe for life. They are cold blooded thieves and the goverment ( the law makers) looks the other way. With all that money they have stolen we would solve a lot of problems in this nation.
I think that we should vote out all of Congress and the Senate in the next elections, and their families that have been in Washington for @ 100 years out. We need a serious change in Washington, because they do not care about the people, they only care about their pay check all the the goodies that come along.
As a born american I know that even though we have long way to go, becasue of God,s mercy , we will get up. America is strong.
Thank You

Tom L.   April 29th, 2009 10:06 pm ET

F. Jack Cafferty is called a "reporter." Enough said.

Lydalyn   April 29th, 2009 10:06 pm ET

I believe patience is the key. So often the media gets caught up in what they think people-their listeners want to hear. I believe some media groups tend to focus so much on one side of the political highway that a clear objective view of what is truly happening is not reported on. Thus the listener goes away thinking either way depending on their prejudice towards a view point. I believe it is up to the media to give a clear and precise reporting of the news in as much as an unbiased way possible. Case in point, today’s and Obama speech to the press. I believe that for one he is President and there should have been an applause before and when he completed the question-answer session. Now I have ATT-U-verse and had a large variety of channels to listen and watch this session from. Not to mention I probably could have found it online somewhere. But I tuned into CNN. CNN because I knew they would give an uninterrupted, unbiased and complete approach. I also knew that CNN would give a short synopsis at the end which you did. I liked the voting. I am sorry I missed the chance to enter the vote. I kept pausing the TV. Funny how that works. I’d be upset for a commercial interruption but will interrupt it as long as I can control the pause button. Thus, is the American people of today. Very busy and not willing to give anyone the benefit of not being interrupted. Next time hold the voting on such an important matter open a bit longer for viewers like myself. Thank you.
And CNN gets an A plus for coverage. Though I guess it is biased since I did not watch any other network and how they televised it. I give Obama a B plus for content and an A for total grade. I am a republican and I did vote for him. I am being patient to see what he can do. Lets restart the clock for the next 100 days. Starting ….now…

Anonymous   April 29th, 2009 10:05 pm ET

These polls are baloney! You people don't have a clue. Nor do you care about the the truth. This guy is running the country into the ground; what is wrong with all of you that you aren't concerned – that you don't see it? Surely, you must wonder why no one reads your newspapers or watches your news anymore. Not to worry – Obama will give you a taxpayer's bailout when you lose your jobs, which is inevitable. You are all pathetic.

Kathy   April 29th, 2009 10:05 pm ET

I think the media have gone out of their way to report the most biased way possible. I have stopped for the most part even watching ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN (with the exception of this evening). I don't trust anymore that they are reporting the whole story on any issue. I wonder who is lining their pockets, because I know they are not that ill informed about the details of everything relating to this administration. I suppose when the main networks are owned by the political party that is in control the true brain washing begins and true libertys end.

jim carroll internetfreepress.com   April 29th, 2009 10:05 pm ET

After reading all the comments of others, I think Cnn News still get
an A. Iflation is a euphemism theft.

Shelley   April 29th, 2009 10:04 pm ET

Awwwww

"Liberty" is having a bad hair day......

samalama   April 29th, 2009 10:02 pm ET

It was once said that a black man would be president "when pigs fly" indeed 100 days into Obama's presidency...Swine flu.

Darnell   April 29th, 2009 10:00 pm ET

Can't we all just get along? Well, it really doesn't matter, b/c "The People"–right, right-The Majority have decided. And on this 100 day of screams of Marxism, Socialism and "I hope he fails"! Our President is still popular in the polls, most Americans are afraid about the Economy but are positive and are patient because they appreciate President Obama's transparency. So, haters continue to hate-and when everything improves and our Country reaches its potential and becomes the true shining beacon in the World–we will all wonder what's really behind the hate.

jim carroll internetfreepress.com   April 29th, 2009 9:59 pm ET

I would give CNN Newsand A+. The only fuss that I have with CNN News is that they will not discuss The Philosophy of Mixturism–which
the world is coming to Mixturism. Send me your name and address
and I will send you a copy of The Philosophy of Mixturism and
Nature's Basic Law of Economics. I would Fox News a F. It should be
named The Three Stooges Network or The Republican Dieing Network.

CynG   April 29th, 2009 9:59 pm ET

It may be true that the media's coverage of the White House and Congress deserves a grade of C. But the media's coverage of President Obama is an F-. The media's coverage on President Obama and Mrs. Obama has been so inaccurate, unworthy, and rude. We all know that President Obama and Mrs. Obama are great people and CNN's reporting of them both have been everything but honest.
When it comes to voting on the 3 cable news stations regarding any news coverage on President Obama and Mrs. Obama, the worst has been Fox news, and CNN is next. MSNBC is close to being honestly accurate in reporting news worthy coverage and accuracy on President Obama and Mrs. Obama.

Sonja   April 29th, 2009 9:59 pm ET

Media is in the tank with Obama. More people are coming out of the fog and seeing it. Free pass on the GE connection, Fannie Mae old CEO and Barney Franks connection. Why not REPORT the news. The people learn more from blogs than what the media tells us.

Ken Johnson   April 29th, 2009 9:58 pm ET

CNN is the most innovative and best looking; also the most interactive with there audience. I truly think Anderson is WAY to cool to be a 10 o'clock . So is the the girl he does the last ten minutes of his show with. It's sad that i don't know her name. She is very talented and has lots of Potential. they have great Chemistry, but its hard to make a name when you do a 10 o'clock show in a dark studio. WOLF , you the man!!!!

SLM   April 29th, 2009 9:57 pm ET

F – Way to biased. Good Media coverage should be non biased and present all the facts. Trust that we will make the right choice based on the facts not the limited facts we are presented by the majority of so called news channels and papers. When facts are limited credibility is lost.

grandma6   April 29th, 2009 9:57 pm ET

A+++ for Obama,
C for CNN
A++ for MSNBC,
FFFFF for FOX and Limba

Anonymous   April 29th, 2009 9:57 pm ET

If one were to look at the media coverage of the President with the unbiased eye that journalists are supposed to employ, the only grade you could give them would be a D, and that's being generous. There exists a cult of personality surrounding the President that makes for great television, but makes for equally poor journalism.

Pat Conway   April 29th, 2009 9:52 pm ET

I give President Obama an A+ for his administration's foreign ploicy.

I also grade the media (CNN) an A, especially Keith, Chris, and Rachel an A+. I love them! I watch them every day and night.

Pat Conway

m. saad   April 29th, 2009 9:52 pm ET

so far we didn,t see any reaction to the new israeli govert , no effort to push for justice in the middle east

Michael IronShell Jr   April 29th, 2009 9:52 pm ET

I think Obama deserves an A+ for his work

Bro   April 29th, 2009 9:52 pm ET

I see the media as almost completely committed to Obama. Case in point, I just heard CNN comment in a positive way about Obama's observation about washing hands after shaking hands...not a bad thought. If that had been President Bush, the media [and Washington politicians] would portrayed the same comment in a negative light saying he was shallow! I'm not sure why I even stopped at CNN when I was flipping channels...nothing is going to change.

J.P.   April 29th, 2009 9:51 pm ET

I think the media should get a grade of "G" for its coverage of the president... G as in "Gee, he's dreamy! Do you think he likes me??!! I've totally got a chill running down my leg! OMG!"

Edward R. Murrow is certainly rolling in his grave.

Flakeman   April 29th, 2009 9:50 pm ET

I've never seen the media this incompetent. There is news coverage 24 hours a day. It's full of repeated inaccuracies. Reporters rarely take the time to understand their stories and to check their facts. In the printed media. misspelling, grammatical errors etc. . In the video media they rely so much on their pictures that they are misled and make the story about the pictures.

NOBAMA   April 29th, 2009 9:49 pm ET

Where are my comments. Dissent was supposed to be patriotic when Bush was in power. What up CNN.

christine   April 29th, 2009 9:48 pm ET

CNN, the question should be this. Have the media been spending too much time over analizing Obama with bunch of unqualified "political analysists"? Second, have the media spent more time trying to score their own political points than listening to the regular people? Finally, if Obama's poll #s are still high, imagine how high it would have been if we didn't have cable news networks lying to the American people about Obama just because of ratings.

Ed's Kate   April 29th, 2009 9:48 pm ET

Overall, coverage is very good. The only exception to this is (sorry,CNN) Ed Henry of CNN. Why does he always have such a smirk on his face when he asks questions? He comes across as a "smart aleck".
I don't mean that one should always have a solemn look but there are times when that should be in vogue. It almost looks like he wants to be the "I gotcha" guy.

ggonz   April 29th, 2009 9:45 pm ET

You media ppl and journalist are more political than the politicians themselves. please, give us a break with your crap.

NOBAMA   April 29th, 2009 9:44 pm ET

The people of America were duped by the mainstream media during the election........and the duping continues.

Linda   April 29th, 2009 9:43 pm ET

You are so busy "verbally massaging" each other you stop being objective.

mark   April 29th, 2009 9:42 pm ET

The liberial love affair. F

willie   April 29th, 2009 9:42 pm ET

The media has been on point, however, they can over speculate. Meaning,the media tends to make situations better or worse than they really are.But overall, good job!!!!!

Anonymous   April 29th, 2009 9:40 pm ET

b+

NOBAMA   April 29th, 2009 9:39 pm ET

No questions on the economy? Journalism is dead in this country. Mainstream media is in the tank for Obama.

Lorraine   April 29th, 2009 9:38 pm ET

She is doinig excellant,job considered b+

akdmac   April 29th, 2009 9:38 pm ET

Too much repeating and trying to fill the hours with making too much out of to little. More happening than what they are spending time on or willing to work on. I mean really how much time or effort do you need to spend on a dog in the white house. What's next poop patrol on the front lawn?

Shelley   April 29th, 2009 9:37 pm ET

I give ya's a B..... EXCEPT "Fixed News" that is..... They need to learn what "fair and balanced" means.

Ahmed Attiya   April 29th, 2009 9:37 pm ET

the U.S. media and government deliberately neglect and ignore the real serious middle east issues in Palestine ( the Israeli-Arab conflict ) and the situation in Lebanon

reddick   April 29th, 2009 9:37 pm ET

A

roseta edouard   April 29th, 2009 9:36 pm ET

He deserve an A for what he does for the first 100 days.

Kebede Degefu   April 29th, 2009 9:36 pm ET

A+ for President Obama great start

Ed   April 29th, 2009 9:36 pm ET

What a well orchestrated press conference. 13 questions from a list of liberal reporters. In 1 hour only 13 questions. They were all softball questions from a pansy press who is in Love with Obama.

maria mazer   April 29th, 2009 9:35 pm ET

In my entire adult life watching presidents starting with Richard Nixon, I have been horrified and cringed many a time,none more so than in the last 8 years. How lucky are we to get a man like Obama to be our president. How is he doing? I doubt than there is another man who could do as much as he has done in 100 days as Barak Obama has done. Thank you; I am once again so proud to be an American. Maria Mazer

Jay-P   April 29th, 2009 9:34 pm ET

Barack Obama deserves a C or under, in my opinion. It's way to early to grade Obama on the issues at hand, there's so much going on in our country to fully trust that government will provide a solution for us. For all these problems, the government offers their solution for more control and power. I have a feeling that Obama is deceiving the people into a one world government, a one world currency, a new world order. Us Americans need to stand up against big government and Obamas' support for big banks such as wall street for example. Google Video The Obama Deception, it is free from the provider to bootleg copies and pass them out to as many Americans as we can, the people need to stand up once more for our democracy and our constitution.

Lindsay Lane   April 29th, 2009 9:34 pm ET

I was too late to vote. I give the media a D.

wakeupamerica   April 29th, 2009 9:34 pm ET

The media gets a D from me. Some of their questions are assinine and asked to flame political posturing antics. If the media would return to objective and unbiased reporting instead of trying to fill air time and media space full of jabbering talking heads then perhaps they would do a better job. The 24/7 news cycle we live in is a joke. It's not news, just opinion. In my opinion 24/7 news was the worst thing to happen for politics and entertainment. The art of real news and real reporting is long lost. It would be nice if reporters would return to reporting instead of espousing their opinion.

Linda Aldridge   April 29th, 2009 9:34 pm ET

The President is the Best person for the job-AMERICANS needs to give him the cooperationssss to fix and undo all the wrong that has been done to the world and nationally- Congress needs to be lock-up for the service that has done to the voters for not giving the President all of there assistance to help him and American out of this messss. Mr. President-you fine man-keep up the good work and keep your head hell up high and stay strong. Be Bless. L.A

Sione van Walderveen   April 29th, 2009 9:33 pm ET

President Obama makes me smile everytime I see him. He gives me a sense of hope and him uniting people all around the world in these grim times. My wish is that America will be our "lighthouse"again.

The Film Professor   April 29th, 2009 9:33 pm ET

I think a C is accurate. The Media is often way too caught up in trying to create a controversy to increase ratings, whether it is related to Obama or to all of the stupid backstories related to Sarah Palin and Bristol and Levi.

judith   April 29th, 2009 9:32 pm ET

The media coverage is so biased in favor of the president that it has lost it's credibility. It seems they actually work for the Obama administration.

sharon jefferson   April 29th, 2009 9:32 pm ET

i give president obama an At in all that he has done .to try to help the people in the united states.

L. John Martin   April 29th, 2009 9:32 pm ET

I'd give the President an
A for his command of the subjects that came up
A- for how he proposes to handle the problems
B for his success, so far, in handling topics

chris   April 29th, 2009 9:32 pm ET

I think the poll was rigged! Are you kidding me!! Obama has been flip flop around and main stream media has yet to call him on it. Instead they said he was the "savior", the "anointed one"...what's up with that. By the way Democrats had control of Congress the past two years and Obama was one of them. Therefore how in blazes did he "inherit" the debt?

chanell b jax fl   April 29th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

i love the in depth ways that you cover your stories. i get information that regular news coverages doesnt give me. cnn & the best political news team derserves an A+

Pam Malafronte   April 29th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

I'm so proud of my President; he is a phenomenal man who in just 100 days has changed our image in the world and he is working hard to help the "commoners" here at home gain health care, reduce interest rates on credit cards–and he has reminded us of our own personal responsibility.

clyde lafayette   April 29th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

i give the president a b+ considering he has so much on his plate...

Tipsy Cape Coral   April 29th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

Depending on the which side of the aisle the media sits ... their views are slanted. I've watched several commentators/pundits call him Mr. Obama rather than President Obama! The media should leave their partisanship at home .. it doesn't belong on the airwaves!

liberal gal   April 29th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

I think that the Media is doing a great job....specially Cnn you always have the facts.Thanks for keeping it real

Majestic Porter   April 29th, 2009 9:31 pm ET

A+

david   April 29th, 2009 9:30 pm ET

I USE TO REPECT CNN. HOWEVER, 90% OF YOUR REPORT ARE PATHETIC.

marlene lauritzen   April 29th, 2009 9:30 pm ET

I am happy with the promise of honesty and intelligence, compassion and thoughtfulness of the president. It is wonderful not to hear ideology but to hear a man that is mindful of the problems that face us all. I am hopeful for we have a president that is conscious and is open minded and is addressing the problems that truly face us as human beings.

Liberty   April 29th, 2009 9:30 pm ET

Due to this year's EXTREME liberal bias, especially during the elections, I give the media a D- grade. After all, it is expected that our media is objective and fair, and is the most essential part of the media. Otherwise, you are nothing more than a left-wing propaganda machine. Nobody likes to feel like someone is attempting to brainwash them.

Under Bush you guys dug up all sorts of goodies for me to laugh and speculate about. I want you to dig up the dirt on Obama, because there is surely a lot of it. Stop the stupid "First Dog" nonsense. Stop ripping on the GOP (they are near extinct anyways, and are irrelevant in today's world.)

Go dig up the Wall Street ties to Obama.
Go dig up the FEMA concentration camps.

Richie   April 29th, 2009 9:27 pm ET

Yes, Because the negativity doesn't end!

Anonymous   April 29th, 2009 9:27 pm ET

i give the president an ( a)

Sussan Johnsen   April 29th, 2009 9:26 pm ET

I grade President Obama's foreign policy an "A+". Thanks God we have him to establish the lost leadership of the past 8 years. Sussan Johnsen

Tomika Van Dyke   April 29th, 2009 9:26 pm ET

F

malclave   April 29th, 2009 9:25 pm ET

A "C"?

Horrendous grade inflation. You should be left back until you're able to define "journalistic ethics".

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