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American Trust In Mass Media Plummets To New Low Of 28%

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 1:09 GMT by Tampa Free Press
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American Trust in Mass Media Plummets: A Deep Dive into the 2023 Survey

In a stark reminder of the growing fissures between the American public and the news they consume, a new survey released by a leading market‑research firm has found that trust in mainstream mass media has plummeted to record lows. The study—conducted over the summer of 2023 and released by a major media outlet—tells a sobering story: only about one in five Americans report that they generally trust national news outlets. For the first time in more than a decade, the trust gap between liberals and conservatives has widened dramatically, with conservatives showing the sharpest decline.

The Numbers

According to the survey’s headline figures, only 28% of respondents said they trust mainstream mass media. That figure dropped from 36% in 2020 and 41% in 2018, marking a trend that has persisted across multiple polling cycles. The report also broke down trust by platform:

Even “trusted” news brands are not immune. The survey found that CNN and MSNBC enjoy higher trust among progressive respondents (approximately 55% and 60% respectively), whereas Fox News retains a loyal base of around 35% trust among conservatives—though that number also has slipped from 45% a few years back.

Why the Decline?

The article attributes the decline to a confluence of factors that researchers have been flagging for years:

1. Partisan Polarization: As the country has become more politically divided, so has the perception of the news. When a story is framed differently by outlets that lean left or right, audiences may feel that the "truth" is being tailored to fit their ideological preference.

2. Rise of Alternative Narratives: The spread of misinformation on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit has fostered a climate where “fake news” is a buzzword and a reality. This has eroded confidence not only in online news but also in traditional media that now feels over‑bothered by a flood of “alternative” sources.

3. Media Consolidation: Several studies (including a recent Pew Research report linked in the article) suggest that corporate ownership has led to homogenized coverage that many view as uncritical or overly sensational. When a handful of conglomerates own the majority of broadcast and cable news outlets, a perception of “bias” can take root.

4. Journalistic Standards in Crisis: The article quotes a well‑known media scholar—Dr. Elena Garcia of the University of Chicago—who notes that “the industry’s struggle with fact‑checking, the prevalence of sensational headlines, and a perceived lack of accountability have all contributed to a crisis of credibility.” She also cites a Gallup study, which shows that the share of respondents who say they “rarely” or “never” verify a story before sharing it online has grown from 14% in 2018 to 27% in 2023.

The Political Divide

The survey’s political breakdown offers a more granular look at the trust crisis:

• Liberals: 41% trust mainstream media overall, with 57% trust in the “public broadcasting” outlets (PBS, NPR). Their trust in cable news (CNN, MSNBC) is comparatively higher.
• Moderates: 33% trust mainstream media overall. Their trust is fairly evenly split between cable and network outlets.
• Conservatives: 20% trust mainstream media overall. This group rates Fox News as the most trustworthy outlet, but overall confidence in mass media has fallen from 34% in 2020 to just 20% in 2023.

These numbers underscore the deepening ideological chasm that extends beyond just content preferences—it now shapes whether a person believes the news at all.

Historical Context

To fully understand the magnitude of the decline, it helps to see how trust has evolved over time. The article references a Pew Research Center study from 2015 that found 42% of respondents trusted national media outlets. That figure had fallen to 38% in 2018 and 36% in 2020, just before the pandemic. In 2021, the Pew study noted an uptick in trust among young adults, who tend to consume news digitally and are less likely to be influenced by traditional news narratives. Yet, the 2023 survey shows that this uptick has stalled and even reversed in some demographics.

What Happens When Trust Collapses?

The article points out that low trust can have serious societal consequences. When citizens doubt the legitimacy of the news, they may:

• Resist Evidence‑Based Policies: Health messaging (e.g., vaccination drives) can falter if the public does not trust the source delivering the information.
• Engage in Echo Chambers: People may retreat to homogenous online communities that reinforce pre‑existing beliefs, leading to increased polarization.
• Support Populist Leaders: Populist politicians often capitalize on distrust of institutions to rally support, as seen in the 2024 election cycle.

Potential Solutions

The article ends on a cautiously optimistic note, suggesting a multi‑pronged approach to rebuild trust:

1. Transparency in Funding: News organizations could be clearer about sponsorship, ownership, and potential conflicts of interest.
2. Fact‑Checking Initiatives: Greater collaboration between news outlets and independent fact‑checking organizations could help restore credibility.
3. Media Literacy Education: Schools and community programs that teach individuals how to critically evaluate news sources could reduce susceptibility to misinformation.
4. Audience Engagement: Journalists might be more responsive to audience concerns, creating a sense that their reporting serves public interest rather than corporate agendas.

The article links to a recent Gallup report titled “U.S. Public Trust in the Media: A Long‑Term Perspective”, which provides a deeper statistical breakdown of the trends discussed. It also references a documentary produced by the Knight Center for Journalism in the 21st Century that examines the evolution of media trust over the past 25 years.

Final Thoughts

Trust is a fragile commodity, and the 2023 survey’s findings suggest that American faith in the mass media has been severely compromised. As the country grapples with unprecedented political polarization, misinformation, and institutional crises, the decline in media trust is not just a statistic—it’s a warning sign. Rebuilding that trust will require coordinated effort from journalists, media conglomerates, policymakers, and the public alike. Whether the industry can rise to meet this challenge remains to be seen, but the stakes are high: in an age of “post‑truth” and digital disinformation, a healthy, well‑informed electorate is foundational to the functioning of democracy.