Trust in Media, Institutions, and Health Information in Metropolitan Nebraska: 2021 Nebraska Metro Poll Results

Authors

Rebecca J. Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Heather Akin, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
L. J. McElravy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Timothy L. Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Steven A. Schulz, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Date of this Version

2021

Document Type

Article

Citation

Nebraska Metro Poll, Research Report (2021) 21-2, 32pages

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Also available at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/pdf/21metropolltrustinmediainstitutions.pdf

Abstract

Overall, most metropolitan Nebraskans have confidence in their local institutions (public safety agencies in their community, public schools in their community, and voting and election systems in their county). However, many have very little confidence in many national institutions (the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Presidency) as well as the Governor.

Metropolitan Nebraskans most trust information received from friends/family/ acquaintances, local news sources (TV and newspapers), public sources (PBS and public radio) and state newspapers. They least trust information from social networking sites, Internet blogs, and Fox News.

Most metropolitan Nebraskans trust local health professionals for reliable information on the coronavirus. Over nine in ten trust their doctor or other health care professional either some or a lot and just over three-quarters trust their local health department for reliable information on the coronavirus. At least seven in ten trust the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state public health officials.

Most metropolitan Nebraskans favor having health professionals being the primary authority for public health decisions. Just over four in ten support having local health departments being the primary authority for public health decisions while one-third favor having state health departments as the primary authority. Less than one in ten metropolitan Nebraskans think either local or state government should be the primary authority for public health decisions.