Gallup: Confidence in TV is at 28%. Newspapers 28% 6/14

June 14, 2005

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Editor And Publisher

Should the corporate media be surprised that Americans think they are

lying? Confidence in TV is at 28%. Newspapers 28% 6/14

Gallup: Public Confidence in News Media Falls to New Low

By E & P Staff

Published: June 10, 2005 11:00 AM ET

NEW YORK Public trust in newspapers and television news continued to

decline in Gallup's annual survey of " public confidence in major

institutions " in the United States, reaching an all-time low this year.

Those having a " great deal " or " quite a lot " of confidence in

newspapers dipped from 30% to 28% in one year, the same total for

television. The previous low for newspapers was 29% in 1994. Since

2000, confidence in newspapers has declined from 37% to 28%, and TV

from 36% to 28%, according to the poll.

However, some other institutions fared far worse this year, suggesting

a broad level of distrust, cynicism or malaise.

Confidence in the presidency plunged from 52% to 44%, with Congress

and the criminal-justice system also suffering 8% drops. Confidence in

the U.S. Supreme Court fell from 46% to 41%. The 22% confidence rating

for Congress is its lowest in eight years, and self-identified

Republicans have only a slightly more positive view of the institution

than do Democrats.

The military topped the poll with a 74% confidence rating, with the

police at 63% and organized religion at 53%. Big business and Congress

(both at 22%) and HMOs (17%) brought up the rear.

Looking at the newspaper numbers, of those surveyed, 24% say they have

" very little " confidence in them, while 1% said " none. " By far the

highest number, 46%, said " some, " with 28% expressing strong confidence.

E & P Staff (letters)

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