Americans’ trust in the media has plunged to its lowest-ever level, according to the latest Gallup poll, with just 28% of U.S. adults expressing a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in newspapers, television, and radio to report news fully, accurately, and fairly. This figure marks a steep decline from last year’s already historic low of 31%, and continues a nearly five-decade slide from the high of 68% recorded in 1972. Just five years ago, it was at 40%.
The Gallup data, gathered in September 2025, shows that skepticism toward the media now cuts across all ages and political lines, with trust levels for every demographic at record lows. Some 70% of U.S. adults report having “not very much” confidence (36%) or “none at all” (34%) in media organizations, signifying a crisis in legitimacy and relevance for the nation’s fourth estate.
Gallup notes that media trust remained just above 50% until dropping to 44% in 2004, and it hasn’t gotten back above majority level since. Confidence notably collapsed during the divisive 2016 presidential campaign, the polling service says, with the highest reading in the past decade being 45% in 2018. This year’s reading is the first time it ever dropped below 30%.
