These kinds of numbers are alarming for civil society. The press is supposed to play an integral role in holding officials to account and helping the public make informed decisions. The more Americans are turned off from traditional news, the more they turn to social media and other truly dubious sources of information. It also creates a world in which Americans self-select their news sources, meaning they increasingly read or listen to only things with which they agree. America is growing more radical and polarized, and the press in recent years has played a big role in that change.
