US (Washington Insider Magazine) – A recent Gallup poll shows that trust in American media remains at an all-time low, with only 31% of Americans expressing confidence in news organizations to report “fully, accurately, and fairly.” This figure is nearly identical to last year’s 32% and continues a trend of declining trust since 2016.
For the third consecutive year, more Americans (36%) have no trust at all in the media than those who express a fair or great deal of confidence. Another 33% report having “not very much” trust in media sources such as newspapers, television, and radio.
Decades of Declining Media Trust
Gallup has been tracking trust in the media since 1972. In the 1970s, public confidence was high, ranging from 68% to 72%. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, trust had dropped to between 51% and 55%. Since 2016, the numbers have remained consistently low, with the latest survey conducted from Sept. 3-15, 2024 reinforcing this trend.
Partisan Divide in Media Trust
Political affiliation continues to play a significant role in media perception:
- 54% of Democrats express confidence in the media.
- 27% of Independents trust the media, matching their all-time low from 2022.
- Only 12% of Republicans trust news organizations—a figure close to their lowest historical level.
Democrats’ trust in media dropped sharply in 2016 to 51% but later rebounded, peaking between 68% and 76% from 2017-2022. However, their trust declined to 58% in 2023 and has continued to fall since.
Generational Gaps in Media Confidence
Trust in the media also varies significantly by age:
- 43% of Americans aged 65+ trust news organizations.
- Only 26% of Americans under 50 express confidence.
- Among young Democrats (ages 18-29), only 31% trust the media, compared to 74% of Democrats aged 65+.
Americans Trust Local and State Governments More Than National Institutions
Among the 10 civic and political institutions surveyed, the media ranks among the least trusted, alongside Congress. In contrast, Americans place greater trust in local and state governments.
- 67% trust local governments to handle community issues.
- 55% trust state governments to address state-level concerns.
- 54% trust the American people as a whole to make informed decisions under a democratic system.
Other key findings:
- Judicial Branch (U.S. Supreme Court): Trusted by 40%-48% of Americans.
- Executive Branch (President): trusted by less than half of Americans.
- Legislative Branch (Congress): Only 34% trust lawmakers in Washington.
- Political Candidates: gained a slight six-point increase in public trust from last year.
Democrats vs. Republicans: Who Trusts Institutions More?
Partisan differences extend beyond media trust. Democrats express higher confidence in most institutions except for the judicial branch:
- Democrats (54%–82%) trust most government institutions, except Congress and the judiciary.
- Republicans have greater confidence in state and local governments and are the only group with higher trust in the judicial branch than Democrats.
Conclusion: A Crisis of Institutional Confidence
The United States continues to experience a widespread crisis of trust in key institutions, including the federal government, political leadership, and mass media. While state and local governments still maintain majority support, skepticism remains high regarding the integrity of national governance.
As trust in American media reaches record lows, the growing partisan and generational divide highlights broader concerns about the role of the press in democracy. Whether these trends will shift in the future remains uncertain.
