If you find yourself suspicious of major news outlets, a new study shows that you're far from alone in your feelings. Yesterday, research firm Gallup and Knight Foundation published the results of an annual survey recording the public's confidence in news media and press.
According to the study, barely more than a quarter of Americans look favorably on news media -- the lowest confidence level in five years. More than half (or 61%) of viewers in the U.S. are overwhelmed with multiple conflicting sources of information, making it difficult to figure out what news is reliable and what isn't.
DON'T MISS: House Republicans Pressure AT&T Over Decision on Far-Right News Network
View the original article to see embedded media.
Even tougher to swallow, a whopping 72% of Americans feel that national news organizations have resources and opportunities to report news factually. And yet, roughly half of Americans feel those same national news organizations intend to misinform and persuade the public.
The data recorder was also significantly impacted by the subjects' political affiliation. According to Gallup and Knight Foundation, “Media trust continues to vary along predictable lines. Democrats express significantly more trust in news organizations than Republicans. Among Republicans, trust in news continues to decline."
But news in the U.S. isn't all doom and gloom. The study also reveals that more than half of Americans feel more trust toward networks closer to home. 53% of those surveyed believe that local news organizations care about the communities they report on.
