A recent Gallup poll has shown that American trust in the mass media is dwindling, with figures matching the historic low of 2016.
A mere 32% of Americans expressed that they trust the media “a great deal” or “a fair amount” in presenting the news comprehensively, fairly, and accurately.
These figures draw a parallel with those in 2016, although they were somewhat similar in 2021 (36%) and 2022 (34%).
Moreover, an unprecedented 39% of American adults confessed to having “none at all” when it comes to confidence in the media.
This stark figure surpasses by one percentage point the previous record, and is notably 12 points greater than the 2016 statistic.
This waning confidence in media surpasses that witnessed during the 2016 presidential campaign when then-candidate Donald Trump frequently criticized the media.
Back then, the majority, 41% of U.S. adults, reported having “not very much” trust in the media.
This poll, carried out from Sept 1-23, underscores a worrying trend.
This is the second instance, the previous being last year, where those having zero confidence in the media exceeded those who expressed considerable trust.
Historical data from Gallup, which started this line of questioning in 1972 and has followed it annually since 1997, shows a noticeable decline in media trust, Gallup notes.
The 1970s saw trust levels floating between 68% and 72%.
Although a decline was evident by the late 90s, the majority still placed their trust in the media until 2004.
Trust figures then dipped to 44% and, despite a brief climb to 50% in 2005, haven’t exceeded 47% since.
On the party lines, the confidence Democrats have in media has always surpassed that of the Republicans.
However, the recent 47-point difference is the smallest observed since 2016.
The past year has witnessed a drop of 12 points in Democrats’ trust in the media, currently standing at 58%, in stark contrast to 11% among Republicans and 29% among independents.
From 2017 to 2022, Democrats showed a higher-than-average trust, while confidence from Republicans and independents lagged behind their respective averages.
Younger Democrats, as per last year’s data, displayed lesser trust in the media compared to their older counterparts.
Conversely, the Republicans’ trust remained consistent across age groups.
The crux of the matter is clear: the faith Americans hold for the media in delivering fair and accurate news has plummeted to levels previously seen in 2016.
This decline in trust in the media aligns with the current low trust in the three branches of the federal government.
Gallup’s surveys from June echoed this sentiment, revealing near-historic low confidence levels in TV news and newspapers.
Furthermore, a survey last December indicated that the public’s perception of journalists’ honesty and ethics was at a tying all-time low.
While the partisan divide on media views remains evident, a substantial decline in Democrats’ trust was observed this year.
Even though a majority of Democrats still maintain their faith in the media, the dwindling numbers among them could potentially drag the national confidence average even lower, especially considering the already-rock-bottom figures among Republicans.
