Americans’ trust in the media to report the news accurately and fairly has dropped to a record low of 31%, according to a Gallup poll released Monday. This continues a trend of declining media trust, which was already at 32% in 2016 and 2023, making this the lowest point on record.
The decline in confidence comes after years of public frustration with how the media has covered significant events such as Russian collusion, Hunter Biden’s laptop, and the January 6 investigation. Many Americans now believe the media pushes certain narratives, leading to a loss of credibility.
Gallup’s findings show that more U.S. adults now express no trust at all in the media (36%) than those who say they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust. An additional 33% have “not very much” trust in the media.
The divide between political parties is stark: 54% of Democrats say they trust the media, compared to only 27% of independents and a mere 12% of Republicans. This divide has been consistent for several years, with Democrats generally showing higher trust levels.
Americans’ trust in the media was much higher in the 1970s, but the rise of social media and alternative platforms has led to increased skepticism about traditional media outlets. The poll reflects a growing sentiment that the media no longer represents a fair and balanced source of information for many people.
