Media Trust Polling
Polling data indicates that trust in the media remains near record lows in the United States. According to a Gallup poll conducted in September 2022, only 7% of Americans have a "great deal" of trust and confidence in the media, and 27% have "a fair amount," while 28% do not have much confidence and 38% have none at all in newspapers, TV, and radio.25 This trend is consistent across multiple years, with trust levels not reaching majority status since 2003.
A more recent poll from The Center Square Voters’ Voice conducted in March 2024 found that 43% of Americans say the media is trustworthy, compared with 54% who said it is not trustworthy.4 Younger people are more likely to trust the media, with 47% of those ages 18-34 saying they trust it, while 46% say the opposite. However, this number decreases as people get older, with only 41% of those 65 and older saying they trust the media compared to 57% who do not.
Another poll from YouGov conducted in February 2025 found that only 29% of Americans say they have a fair amount or a great deal of trust in the media to state the facts fully, accurately, and fairly, compared to 44% who do in Donald Trump’s administration.
These polls highlight a consistent trend of declining trust in media among the American public, with significant differences based on age and political affiliation.