Philanthropy's Role in Restoring Trust in Journalism Amid Declining Public Confidence
In 2025, public trust in media and journalism in the United States has reached a historic low, with only 28% of people expressing confidence in the media's ability to report news fully, accurately, and fairly, according to a Gallup poll. This decline in trust is not seen as a rejection of the media's role in democracy but rather a concern about its effectiveness in fulfilling its civic duty. The Knight Foundation, a significant journalism funder, has highlighted these concerns, noting that political bias, misinformation, and the use of generative AI in news production are major factors contributing to this mistrust. Despite the overall decline, local news organizations maintain higher trust levels compared to national outlets and social media. Philanthropic efforts are focusing on increasing local news coverage and supporting media literacy to combat misinformation.