A recent Gallup poll reveals that trust in establishment media has plummeted to a historic low, with only 31% of Americans expressing confidence in their ability to report news accurately and fairly. This sharp decline reflects growing skepticism over media narratives surrounding high-profile events and highlights a widening partisan divide in trust levels.
Americans’ trust in establishment media has reached a historic low, according to a recent Gallup poll, revealing a troubling trend for journalism in 2024. The survey found that only 31% of U.S. adults have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the media to report news “fully, accurately, and fairly,” down from 32% in 2023 and matching a previous low recorded in 2016.
This decline highlights a significant erosion of credibility, particularly as many respondents cited concerns over the media’s handling of high-profile narratives, including the Hunter Biden laptop story, the investigation into Russian collusion, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the January 6 Capitol riot.
The poll also noted a stark partisan divide in trust levels. While 54% of Democrats reported confidence in the media, only 27% of independents and a mere 12% of Republicans expressed similar trust. The growing disillusionment is especially pronounced among independents, who have seen their confidence plummet to historic lows.
Historically, trust in the media has fluctuated, with ratings in the 1970s ranging from the low 70s to the high 60s. However, confidence began to decline during the Bush administration and fell to alarming levels during the Trump presidency, coinciding with the rise of social media and alternative news platforms that challenge traditional narratives.
With 36% of Americans expressing no trust at all in the media, this survey underscores the urgent need for media organizations to rebuild credibility and address the underlying issues contributing to public skepticism. The findings serve as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between media, politics, and public perception in an era of information overload.
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