Trust in media hits historic low, reports Axios

The percentage of Americans who say they have a great deal or a fair amount of trust in the mass media has fallen to a record low, according to a new Gallup survey, reports Axios.

According to Axios, media trust started to rebound following the 2016 election, but those gains have been wiped out amid growing political partisanship. And, media is now the least-trusted civic and political institution surveyed by Gallup. In fact, states Axios, more Americans say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in Congress, the Supreme Court, local and state governments, and the executive branch than in the media.

As of this year, only 31% of Americans say they have a great deal or a fair amount of trust in the mass media, down from 32% last year, which tied the record low set in 2016. At the same time, the percentage of Americans who say they have “not very much” trust in the media has risen from 27% in 2020 to 33% in 2024. Prior to 2004, more than half of the American population consistently said they trusted the media.

More here.