Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.

Trust in U.S. news media has reached a historic low, with only 28% of adults expressing confidence in newspapers, television, and radio to report fully, fairly, and accurately. Confidence has declined across all partisan groups, with Republicans’ trust now in single digits (8%), independents at 27%, and Democrats holding a narrow majority (51%).

Generational divides are pronounced: adults 65 and older show higher trust, while younger adults remain highly skeptical. For public health communicators, these trends underscore the challenge of effectively conveying health information in a polarized media environment and highlight the importance of building credibility and trust with diverse audiences. Read more from Gallup here.