It’s a complicated time for the news industry. Trust in national media is at a historic low, with only 32% of Americans saying they have a great deal of trust in major news outlets. In fact, the United States ranked last among 46 countries when it comes to public confidence in national news sources.
What’s driving this distrust? Some viewers say it’s not that the media fabricates stories—it’s that they don’t always hear the full picture, or worse, they feel like they’re being told what to believe. Our contributors, Stephanie Green and Sue Abramowitz, weighed in on the issue.
“I don’t trust the news as much as I used to,” Stephanie admitted. “We see identical headlines across every network, and some of those stories later turn out to be questionable. It feels like they’re just reading a script.”
Sue agreed, saying, “I use common sense when I read or watch the news. You have to take in the information and then research it yourself.”
Both contributors pointed out that many people gravitate toward news outlets that align with their existing beliefs. “People just want to hear what confirms their point of view,” Sue said. Stephanie added, “Growing up, we were taught to learn from the news, not to be fed opinions. Now there’s too much speculation, too many hot takes. I just want the facts.”
While trust in local news remains significantly higher, that sector is shrinking too—more than 3,200 local and regional newspapers have closed in the past two decades. The future of journalism may depend on restoring faith through transparency, accountability, and a commitment to unbiased reporting.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
June 10, 2025
