Trust in mainstream media hits another historic low

According to a new Gallup survey, trust in mass media among Americans has dropped to a record low. Currently, only 31% express a great deal or fair amount of trust, a slight decline from 32% last year.

This shift follows a period of recovery after the 2016 election, now diminished by rising political partisanship. Media is now the least trusted civic institution, with more Americans trusting Congress, the Supreme Court, and local governments instead. Additionally, those with "not very much" trust in media increased from 27% in 2020 to 33% in 2024. However, the percentage of individuals claiming to have no trust has decreased slightly from 39% to 36%.