Trust in U.S. Media at Historic Low – Gallup Poll
A Gallup poll has confirmed that trust in mainstream U.S. media has reached a historic low, with only 28% of Americans believing that television, radio, and newspapers report news accurately. This sharp decline marks a significant shift in public perception, with confidence levels far below those of the 1970s, when nearly 70% of Americans placed trust in traditional media outlets. The survey, conducted in September among 1,000 adults, reveals a stark divide in trust levels across political lines.
Among Republicans, confidence in the media has plummeted to single digits, with only 8% expressing any level of trust. This is the lowest level ever recorded and has reached a point where the majority of Republicans believe the media does not report news fairly. Conversely, 51% of Democrats expressed confidence in the media’s coverage, indicating a significant partisan divide. The overall trust level has dropped from 40% five years ago and 31% in the previous year, illustrating a concerning trend for the credibility of news outlets.
The erosion of trust is attributed, in part, to the complex relationship between the Trump administration and the press. A Harvard Kennedy School study highlighted the overwhelming negative coverage of Trump during his first 100 days in office, while a Media Research Center report found that over 90% of evening newscast stories about Trump on ABC, NBC, and CBS were unfavorable. The administration’s response to this coverage has been marked by accusations that major outlets spread a ‘nonstop deluge of hoaxes and lies,’ citing 48 reports it deemed false.
Further contributing to the decline in trust is the changing landscape of media consumption. A Reuters Institute report highlighted that podcasters and AI chatbots are playing an increasingly significant role in news dissemination. More than half of Americans under the age of 35 now rely on social media and video platforms as their primary sources of information, rather than traditional news outlets. This shift reflects a broader trend in media consumption habits and underscores the challenges news organizations face in maintaining public engagement and credibility.