New polling data released this September indicates that Americans are beginning to trust the news media again, a shift that aligns with the waning of President Trump’s long‑standing campaign against the press. The trend is evident both in national surveys and in the attitudes of Republican voters who once embraced the former president’s “fake news” narrative.
National and local trust levels improve
The Pew Research Center reported that 62% of U.S. adults now say they have some or a lot of trust in national news outlets, up from 56% a year ago – the lowest point in a decade of Pew surveys. Trust in local news is even higher, with 75% of adults expressing confidence in their community outlets, compared with 70% the previous year.
Republican voters show the biggest swing
Among Republicans, the shift is striking. In June 2021, only 35% trusted the nation’s largest news organizations. By September, half of Republican respondents said they trusted national media, and 69% expressed confidence in local news sources, according to Pew.
Gallup’s parallel survey echoed this movement. A year ago, just 8% of Republicans reported confidence in the media – a record low that coincided with President Trump’s intensified attacks, lawsuits, and attempts to silence outlets he disliked. In September, that figure more than doubled to 22%.
Overall media confidence still modest
Across the broader population, Gallup found that 33% of Americans trusted the mass media in September, up from 28% a year earlier. While the rise is encouraging, the overall level remains low, underscoring the need for continued efforts to rebuild credibility.
Critics remain skeptical
Despite the upward trend, a recent NORC survey commissioned by the Alliance for Trust in Media showed that 77% of Republicans still believe most journalists try to manipulate news for political or commercial purposes. Only 37% of all adults said they think most journalists aim to report accurately.
The same study identified local news as the most trusted source overall (64%), followed by friends and family (59%), national newspapers (56%) and network television (54%).
Industry experiments aim to boost transparency
Eric Schurenberg, founder of the Alliance for Media Trust, described a promising experiment with the Texas Tribune. Rural Texans who were given a direct messaging tool to contact newsroom leaders were far less likely to claim that journalists fabricate stories or exhibit bias, compared with a control group lacking the tool. Schurenberg said the results highlight the power of transparency and open dialogue.
He added that journalists have become more mindful of their behavior, helping to reduce negative perceptions. While he cautioned against attributing the entire rebound to any single factor, he noted that the decline of President Trump’s relentless press attacks has likely contributed to a more balanced media environment.
Looking ahead
As the nation moves forward, the hope is that the trend toward greater trust will continue, fostering a more informed electorate, stronger accountability journalism, and a healthier civic discourse. Continued transparency, local engagement, and a commitment to factual reporting will be essential to sustain this momentum.
Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.
