Gallup: Americans' Trust in Media Hits Record Low

Gallup has released its annual survey measuring public trust in the mass media, revealing a troubling new low. Only 28% of Americans express a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in newspapers, television, and radio to report news fully, accurately, and fairly. 

This marks a decline from 31% in 2024 and a significant drop from 40% in 2020. The findings highlight a deepening crisis of credibility for traditional media, with stark partisan and generational divides underscoring the trend.

Key Findings

• Overall Trust Declines: The 28% trust level is the lowest in Gallup’s decades-long tracking, down from a high of 68% in 1976. This continues a steady erosion since the early 2000s, when trust hovered around 50%.
• Partisan Divide: Republican confidence in media has plummeted to a historic single-digit low of 8%, the first time it has dipped this far. Democrats, by contrast, report 47% trust, though this is also down slightly from last year. Independents, a critical swing group, show just 23% confidence, reflecting broad skepticism.
• Generational Gaps: Older Americans (aged 65+) retain significantly higher trust in media at 42%, while younger adults (18-34) are far more skeptical, with only 15% expressing confidence. This generational divide suggests a growing disconnect, as younger audiences increasingly turn to non-traditional sources like social media, podcasts, and influencers for information.
• Media-Specific Trends: Trust in newspapers dropped to 29%, television news to 26%, and radio to 27%. Online-only news sources, not explicitly measured, are implied to fare even worse, given the broader distrust in "mass media."

This erosion is partly fueled by a decades-long political campaign to undermine credible journalism. Since the 1990s, terms like "fake news" and "mainstream media bias" have been weaponized, particularly by Republican leaders, to cast doubt on fact-based reporting. 

President Donald Trump’s frequent attacks on media as "the enemy of the people" have resonated with his base, reflected in the 8% Republican trust figure. This rhetoric, amplified by partisan echo chambers on platforms like X, has normalized dismissing inconvenient facts as fabrications.

The media itself is not blameless. High-profile missteps—such as sensationalized coverage, perceived bias in framing, or failures to adequately address misinformation—have damaged credibility. The rise of "clickbait" journalism and the blending of opinion with reporting have further muddied the waters, especially for younger audiences who prioritize authenticity and transparency.

The generational split is particularly alarming. Older Americans, raised in an era of trusted anchors like Walter Cronkite and print journalism’s heyday, maintain a baseline faith in traditional outlets. Younger generations, however, are digital natives, shaped by fragmented information ecosystems. Only 15% of 18- to 34-year-olds trust mass media, with many citing concerns about corporate ownership, agenda-driven reporting, and a lack of representation. 

For instance, a 2024 Pew Research study noted that 60% of Gen Z prefers getting news from social media influencers over traditional outlets, a trend likely intensifying in 2025.