WASHINGTON, D.C. — A majority of Americans say they have little confidence in journalists to act in the best interests of the public, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.
The survey, conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025, found that 57% of U.S. adults express low confidence in journalists. That includes 40% who say they have “not too much” confidence and 17% who say they have none at all. By contrast, 43% say they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in journalists.
The findings are part of the Pew-Knight Initiative’s ongoing research into public attitudes toward news and media. Past surveys have shown Americans tend to express less confidence in journalists than in institutions such as the military, scientists and police.
The survey also highlights a persistent partisan divide. About 61% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they have confidence in journalists, compared with 25% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents. While the gap has narrowed somewhat since 2020, Democrats remain far more likely than Republicans to say journalists act in the public’s best interests.
Focus groups conducted alongside the survey found that distrust in news media crosses party lines. Participants described difficulty knowing which sources to trust and said they increasingly feel the need to verify information or rely on a limited set of news outlets they consider credible.
Pew researchers said the findings reflect a broader pattern of skepticism toward news organizations and highlight the continued polarization surrounding media trust in the United States.
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