Poll: Americans increasingly tuned in to political news

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With the level of discussion on social topics so high and so many Americans involved in the political process in recent years it’s not surprising to see an increase in the number of those paying attention to political news.

The results of a recent Gallup survey show that far more Americans are tuned in lately than ever before. Generally Gallup has measured a considerable drop in the level of attention Americans pay to political news from an election year to a one without major Presidential or Congressional races. While there has been a predictable drop from September of 2008 to 2009 an impressive number of Americans (36%) still claim to follow national political news “very” closely at present. Last election season 43% suggested they were very closely in tune with the events of the day, a record high percentage since Gallup began its tracking on this topic in 2001.

Charting the course from when President George W. Bush was first inaugurated in 2001 interest in political news dropped to its lowest point (19%) in the months prior to the September 11th tragedies. Since that time there has been a steady increase in the number of those plugged in to their news media. By the election season of 2004 some 36% of Americans claimed to be tuned in closely and while that total dropped to around 28% in the following off-election year, 31% of Americans were back viewing attentively for the 2006 midterms.

So far we have seen a steady rise, according to Gallup’s polling, in the number of those viewing political news closely in off-election years. In late-2001 just 23% were heavily tuned in. Those figures increased to 27% in 2003, 28% in 2005, 30% by 2007 and now a record high of 36% in 2009. Just as impressive as the total number of Americans who are closely in turn with political news are the 42% who suggest they are at least "somewhat" plugged in to their coverage. This brings the current total to 78% of adults who show at least some interest in following national affairs.

Gallup actually began tracking this statistic from the mid-stages of 1995 to mid-1996 before leaving a four and half year gap in their data gathering. The lowest total in the number of those who paid attention to political news in that span was 69% registered in the early-July of 1995. The highest number was measured at 81% in January of 1996 as that year’s election season began. Currently just 6% of adults report not watching news of national political affairs at all.

By party the number of Republicans exceeds Democrats and independents in the level of those tuned in. 41% of Republicans watch political news very closely, 37% of independents do the same, while 30% of Democrats share in that assessment. There is slightly more consistency in the number of those who do not pay any attention to political news. This includes just 18% of Republicans, 21% of Democrats and 24% of independents who are essentially tuned out.

Gallup points out that overall Republicans tend to report following political news a bit closer than Democrats or independents but these numbers have been subject to change depending on the election cycle. Democrats exceeded Republican levels during the span of late-August and early-September in 2004 by a 41-38% margin. Both parties cratered to a 26% level of attentiveness during that same span of 2005 against 30% independents who viewed news more closely. By the 2006 midterms Republicans tuned in considerably more than Democrats (35-27%) in spite of their heavy losses than fall. Last year’s election cycle which recorded record highs across the board included 50% of Republicans closely following political news against 44% of Democrats and 37% of independents doing the same.

Lastly Gallup shows substantial differences in terms of gender, age, education and income regardless of party identification. More men than women are tuned in closely (42-30%). Those aged 65 and older (46%) are far more attentive than young adults 18-29 (19%), or even those aged 30-64 (36%). The higher the level of education the more politically interested people tend to be. Postgraduates are tops at 52% closely tuned in, high school grads or less the least at just half that figure (26%) and those claiming some college or college graduates fit comfortably in the middle (39%). Greater wealth also seems to equal greater political interest and awareness. Just 26% of those making less than $30,000 a year follow political news closely against 34% in the $30,000-$74,999 range and 45% who earn $75,000 or more.