A new national Gallup poll today shows few Americans are paying attention to the murder trial of abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell, in what may be a reflection of the poor coverage of it in the mainstream media.
As the survey, which shows a majority of Americans are pro-life on abortion, shows, only about one-quarter of Americans say they have followed news of the case either very closely (7%) or somewhat closely (18%). That is well below the 61% average level of attention Americans have paid to the more than 200 news stories that were considered top news stories that Gallup has measured since 1991.
“An additional 20% of Americans say they are following Gosnell case “not too closely” while 54% say “not at all.” This makes the Gosnell case one of the least followed news stories Gallup has measured,” Gallup says.
Because the case involving brutal late-term abortions and infanticides has resonated with pro-lifers and conservatives, Gallup naturally found: “Republicans, as well as Americans describing themselves as “pro-life” on abortion, are somewhat more likely to report having followed the case closely than are Democrats, independents, and “pro-choice” Americans.”
The poll shows older Americans are more likely to be following the Gosnell murder trial than younger Americans.
As far as the coverage of the trial of the abortion practitioner is concerned, those who are following the case are more likely to say the coverage has been shoddy, which Gallup surmises is because those watching the trial are more likely to be pro-life or Republican.
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“It is not clear from the data whether Americans’ relatively low attention to the Gosnell case reflects a lack of interest in it, or a lack of coverage by the mainstream media. However, nearly half of those following the case, 46%, say the media have not devoted enough coverage to it. That compares with 20% saying the media have devoted too much coverage and 27% saying the right amount,” Gallup says.
“The strong tilt toward saying there has not been enough coverage as opposed to too much coverage partly reflects the heavy representation of pro-life respondents among those who were asked the question,” the polling firm concludes.
