28%
2025 (latest)
TRUST IN MASS MEDIA
percent with a great deal or fair amount of trust · 1972–2025 · higher is better · Gallup, Media Use and Evaluation
68%
1972
72%
high · 1976
28%
low · 2025
−40 pts
since 1972
┊ dashed lines mark 1979 Oil shock & inflation peak · 1987 Black Monday crash · 1991 Gulf War recession · 2001 Dot-com bust & 9/11 · 2008 Global financial crisis · 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
Method & caveats. "In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media — such as newspapers, TV and radio — when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately and fairly?" Great deal + fair amount. Asked in 1972, 1974, 1976 and annually since 1997 (no 2006 reading); September field.
Sources
Every value on this page is read from the publisher below. Current and historical source documents:
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/1663/media-use-evaluation.aspx
- https://github.com/danielmiessler/substrate/tree/main/Data/US-Societal-Health
Data
| Year | Trust in Mass Media | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28% | −3.0 pts |
| 2024 | 31% | −1.0 pts |
| 2023 | 32% | −2.0 pts |
| 2022 | 34% | −2.0 pts |
| 2021 | 36% | −4.0 pts |
| 2020 | 40% | −1.0 pts |
| 2019 | 41% | −4.0 pts |
| 2018 | 45% | +4.0 pts |
| 2017 | 41% | +9.0 pts |
| 2016 | 32% | −8.0 pts |
| 2015 | 40% | +0.0 pts |
| 2014 | 40% | −4.0 pts |
| 2013 | 44% | +4.0 pts |
| 2012 | 40% | −4.0 pts |
| 2011 | 44% | +1.0 pts |
| 2010 | 43% | −2.0 pts |
| 2009 | 45% | +2.0 pts |
| 2008 | 43% | −4.0 pts |
| 2007 | 47% | −3.0 pts |
| 2005 | 50% | +6.0 pts |
| 2004 | 44% | −10 pts |
| 2003 | 54% | +0.0 pts |
| 2002 | 54% | +1.0 pts |
| 2001 | 53% | +2.0 pts |
| 2000 | 51% | −4.0 pts |
| 1999 | 55% | +0.0 pts |
| 1998 | 55% | +2.0 pts |
| 1997 | 53% | −19 pts |
| 1976 | 72% | +3.0 pts |
| 1974 | 69% | +1.0 pts |
| 1972 | 68% | — |
Also in Trust & Institutions