Americans’ trust in media, US government reaches all-time low

Oct 15

Karah Rucker Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Americans’ trust in the media and Congress has hit a historic low, according to a new Gallup poll, while confidence in local government remains significantly higher. The poll highlights a deep partisan divide, with Republicans expressing particularly low confidence in the media.

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According to the survey, only 31% of Americans trust mass media to report news fully, accurately and fairly, making it the least trusted civic institution.

By comparison, 67% of respondents say they trust their local government, and 34% express trust in Congress.

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The survey also shows that only 12% of Republicans trust the media, compared to 54% of Democrats and 27% of Independents.

Media trust saw a slight rebound after falling to 32% in 2016, but the latest numbers suggest any recovery has evaporated. The implications of this declining trust remain unclear, though it points to growing demand for transparency and accountability in national institutions.

[Karah Rucker]

AMERICANS’ TRUST IN CONGRESS AND THE MEDIA DIPPED TO AN ALL-TIME LOW… WHILE FAITH IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT REMAINS STRONG. A NEW POLL REVEALS SHARP DIVIDES IN WHERE AMERICANS LOOK FOR INFORMATION.

ACCORDING TO GALLUP… MASS MEDIA IS NOW THE LEAST TRUSTED CIVIC OR POLITICAL INSTITUTION, CONTINUING A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE SINCE 2018, WITH JUST 31 PERCENT OF AMERICANS TRUSTING NEWS OUTLETS TO REPORT THE NEWS FULLY, ACCURATELY AND FAIRLY.

THE SURVEY REFLECTS A DEEPER DIVIDE IN TRUST WHEN IT COMES TO PARTISAN BELIEFS. REPUBLICANS EXPRESS ESPECIALLY LOW CONFIDENCE IN THE MEDIA, WITH ONLY 12-PERCENT REPORTING A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRUST, COMPARED TO 54-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS AND 27-PERCENT OF INDEPENDENTS.

CONTRASTING THIS… 67-PERCENT OF AMERICANS SAY THEY HAVE A ‘GREAT DEAL’ OF TRUST IN THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE TRUST AMERICANS HAVE IN CONGRESS, WHICH SITS JUST A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE MEDIA AT 34-PERCENT.

TRUST IN MEDIA HAD PREVIOUSLY DROPPED TO 32-PERCENT IN 2016 BEFORE REBOUNDING SLIGHTLY. BUT ACCORDING THIS SURVEY… ANY GOOD WILL BUILT UP OVER THAT TIME HAS DISSOLVED.

WHETHER THIS TREND WILL RESHAPE NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR… THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SEEKING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY… WHICH IS PROBABLY THE EXACT REASON YOU’RE WATCHING STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS RIGHT NOW.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.