Fox News Viewers 'Most Misinformed,' Study Finds

Network's fans most likely to believe certain falsehoods
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 17, 2010 5:00 PM CST
Fox News Viewers 'Most Misinformed,' Study Finds
Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly appears on the Fox News show, "The O'Reilly Factor," on Jan. 18, 2007 in New York.   (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)

University of Maryland researchers have deemed Fox News viewers the "most misinformed," Mediaite reports. The researchers, who asked a number of questions about hot-button issues in the 2010 election, found Fox News viewers—regardless of political affiliation—were more likely than viewers of other networks to believe, for example, that "the auto bailout only occurred under Obama" or that most Republicans opposed TARP when it came up for a vote.

However, researchers also found a set of liberal-minded misconceptions held by viewers of MSNBC, NPR, and PBS, Talking Points Memo notes. Among them: that the US Chamber of Commerce was funneling money from foreign sources to Republican candidates, and that most Republicans oppose TARP. Click for more on the study, including other common misconceptions. (Or click here for Fox's rebuttal.)

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