American Trust in Mass Media Reaches Historic Low, Gallup Poll Reveals
A recent Gallup poll indicates American trust in newspapers, television, and radio has plummeted to a record low of 28%, with significant declines across all political affiliations.
Trust in the Press Is Evaporating
New York Sun
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Overview
- A recent Gallup poll reveals that only 28% of Americans now have a 'great deal' or 'fair amount' of trust in mass media, marking an unprecedented low in public confidence.
- This decline represents a significant drop from 40% five years ago and 31% last year, with trust now falling below 30% for the first time in the poll's history.
- Trust among Republicans has reached an all-time low of 8%, while Independents' confidence in the press also remains at a record low of 27%.
- Even among Democrats, trust in the media has fallen to just over 50%, which is a record low for the party, indicating a broad erosion of confidence.
- While older Americans generally show higher trust, younger demographics exhibit the least confidence, and older Republicans and Independents also report particularly low levels.
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FAQ
The decline is attributed to increasing political polarization, with Republicans’ trust dropping to single digits (8%), Independents hitting record lows (27%), and Democrats falling to just over 50%—a record low for them as well. This suggests that partisanship and generational divides are significant factors, alongside broader societal skepticism about media fairness and accuracy[1].
Historically, between 68% and 72% of Americans expressed confidence in mass media in the 1970s, but this fell to 53% by 1997. The current level of 28% is the lowest ever recorded by Gallup, and it is the first time trust has dropped below 30%[1].
Older Americans (65 and older) have higher levels of trust (43%), but this is still below the national average from previous decades. Younger demographics, as well as older Republicans and Independents, report particularly low confidence. No group currently has a majority expressing ‘great deal’ or ‘fair amount’ of trust[1].
While the article focuses on media, Gallup notes that average confidence across 14 U.S. institutions remains historically low, although some institutions (like police) have seen increases in trust. The low trust in mass media appears to be part of a broader pattern of institutional distrust[2].
Gallup suggests that news organizations must not only deliver fair and accurate reporting but also work to regain credibility across an increasingly polarized and skeptical public. Addressing perceptions of bias, improving transparency, and demonstrating commitment to factual reporting may be necessary steps[1].
History
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