Commentary

Roughing Up the Media: Trust Has Fallen to An All-Time Low

• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, Yesterday

Trust in media has sunk to a new low of 28%, down from 31% last year and 40% five years ago, Gallup reports. 

This is the first time faith in the accuracy and fairness of newspapers, television and radio has sunk to less than 30%. 

At the same time, 36% of readers have little confidence and 34% none at all 

Gallup began measuring confidence in media in the 1970s, when the numbers varied between 68% and 72%. Trust fell to 44% in 2004 but rose to 45% in 2018.

Feelings vary by both age and political preference.

Republican trust, which has not risen above 21% since 2015, has dropped to 8% for the first time.

Trust by independents hit a historical low of 27% last year and has continued at that level. 

For Democrats, the narrowest of majorities (51%) now express trust in the media, which is a repeat of the low previously seen in 2016.

From 2023 to 2025, 43% of persons 65 and older trust the media. 

Among Republicans, 12% of those age 18-29 have a great deal or a fair amount of trust, as do 6% of those in the 30-49 cohort, 8% in the 50-64 demographic and 17% of those 65+. 

Trust is also shared by 29% of Independents in the 18-29 age range, 24% of those who are 30-49, 23% of those in the 50-64 category and 42% of those aged 65+.

Democrats appear to be the most trusting of the media, with the combined 2023-25 data showing 38% of 18-29 year-old readers, 42% age 30-49, 59% of those in the 50-64 grouping and 69% of those aged 65 and older.