American Trust in News Media Hits All-Time Low

news media low all time

A new Gallup poll released today illuminates a striking condemnation on the American news media —  people don’t trust them. When asked if they trusted the news media in the U.S., only about one third of those surveyed answered in the affirmative — the lowest number since they bagan asking this question back in the 70’s. Gallup reports:

[We] began asking this question in 1972, and on a yearly basis since 1997. Over the history of the entire trend, Americans’ trust and confidence hit its highest point in 1976, at 72%, in the wake of widely lauded examples of investigative journalism regarding Vietnam and the Watergate scandal. After staying in the low to mid-50s through the late 1990s and into the early years of the new century, Americans’ trust in the media has fallen slowly and steadily. It has consistently been below a majority level since 2007.

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What may be even more interesting (or disconcerting) are the numbers that emerge when you break-down the party affiliations of those answering the question. Democratic party voters seem to be much less concerned about the trustworthiness of the media than Republicans and independent s over the long-run; suggesting that a concentration of ideological proclivity may be occurring in some demographic influencing news media power-structures.

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What do you think? Is the media trustworthy? Are a select handful of major outlets driving this downward spiral of negative opinion? Have ideological hands grabbed the reins of power at a majority of news organizations? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.

About Patrick Stephens 163 Articles
Patrick is the founder and lead editor of the publication. Currently a pastor of many years by trade, Patrick served in the US Army and did his graduate work at both Miami University in Oxford, OH (Social Sciences) and the University of Dayton (Theology) — earning an advanced degree. He enjoys bringing a larger historical and philosophical perspective to his projects. Also, he likes comic books.