Why They Don’t Trust the Media: An Examination of Factors Predicting Trust

Abstract

Political communication literature reveals an ongoing scholarly interest in issues surrounding the credibility of news media. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, many consumers continue to believe U.S. news media have a political bias and, therefore, are not to be trusted. This study seeks to explain media trust using a new theoretical model. The findings, based on national survey data, suggest that political ideology and partisanship, trust in government and fellow citizens, and one’s view of the economy influence the degree to which audience members trust the news media.