Americans split on whether fact-checkers favor one the most Republicans say this is the case % ofU.S. adults who say fact-checking efforts by news outlets and other organizations
As fact-checking organizations are increasingly being tapped to fight against misinformation, Republicans appear to have serious concerns about the fairness of these groups. Democrats, on the other hand, mostly think they are fair to all sides.
Overall, Americans are split in their views of fact-checkers: Half say fact-checking efforts by news outlets and other organizations tend to deal fairly with all sides, while about the same portion (48%) say they tend to favor one side, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Feb. 19 to March 4, 2019.
But members of the two parties do not see eye-to-eye on this question. Seven-in-ten Republicans say fact-checkers tend to favor one side, compared with roughly three-in-ten Democrats (29%) – a 41 percentage point difference. Conversely, most Democrats (69%) say fact-checkers deal fairly with all sides, a view shared by just 28% of Republicans. Independents are more split, with 47% saying fact-checkers tend to favor one side and 51% saying they deal fairly with all sides – though independents who lean toward the Democratic Party and those who lean toward the Republican Party diverge sharply (65% vs. 37% say fact-checkers deal fairly with all sides, respectively).
Americans split on whether fact-checkers favor one  | the most Republicans say this is the case  | % ofU.S. adults who say fact-checking efforts by news outlets and other  | organizations  | Tend to favor one side  | Deal fairly with all sides  | Total  | 48%  | 50%  | Republican  | 70  | 28  | Independent  | 51  | 47  | Democrat  | 29  | 69  | Source: Survey conducted Feb. 19-March 4, 2019  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 