Declining public trust - AI
Just as the U.S. arena is polarized, the poll shows that the levels of trust in the media vary according to one’s political party. Fifty one percent of Democrats say they trust mass media, 27% of Independents ascribe to the media’s accuracy, while only 8% of Republicans trust the media. So, 43% more Democrats than Republicans believe in the news they get from this country’s mass media outlets.
The Gallup poll also showed that there is a generational divide in the public’s trust in the media, since 43% of older adults aged 65 and older trust the media compared to 28% of those under 65.
These figures are dismaying since the role of the media has not changed from what its role has always been: to inform, to hold leaders accountable and to provide a forum for public dialogue.
Thomas Jefferson said “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
So, from the beginning of our country’s founding, local media has been the foundation of our democracy.
What happens when local media is lost? We can see that happening today with widespread newsroom closures and “news deserts” where communities lack credible local coverage. Protecting and maintaining local news matters because without local news outlets, communities lose oversight of power, civic participation declines and residents are left less informed about decisions shaping their daily lives.
If we fight for anything in this country, shouldn’t it be for our freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, considering that these freedoms are at the bedrock of our democratic way of life? What do you think?
You can get information about a recent panel discussion on the media’s role in our local community by viewing the East Palo Alto Today Facebook page
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