Organizations once referred to as the “mainstream media,” perhaps more accurately described as establishment or fake media, are losing public trust at warp speed. Many outlets are letting go of employees quickly even as salaries are reined in.
At the local level, big shifts are happening too. With leftwing local newspapers struggling, folding, and being bought out by huge conglomerates, a new startup company, yourNEWS, threatens to roll up what’s left of that sector, too.
With its innovative business model and technology allowing advertisers and journalists to target consumers down to the zip code, the firm or another like it may soon dominate.
In short, the media landscape is in the midst of a dramatic transformation that has major implications for investors, consumers, advertisers, and citizens.
According to recent Gallup polling, only 31 percent of Americans have a “great deal/fair amount” of trust in mass media, while 33 percent said they did not have very much trust and 36 percent had “none at all.”
Studies also found youth are the demographic least likely to trust the talking head media. Only 26 percent of 18–29-year-olds have a “great deal/fair amount” of trust. The 65+ age demographic responded with 43 percent exhibiting faith in the media.
According to the data, the rapid decline in trust from the American people began in 2015-2016, during the presidential election that resulted in the victory of Donald Trump. This was the beginning of the end for the “mainstream media.”
Even during the election, far more people were following Alex Jones on Youtube than most of the major establishment outlets — combined. Shortly after that, Jones was banned everywhere.
The media’s death received fame and political energy when then president-elect Trump held his first post-election press conference in New York City. Among other jabs, he famously put down CNN reporter Jim Acosta and his organization as “fake news.”
The remainder of Trump’s first term consisted of consistent and heavily publicized war between Trump and the media, decorated with a plethora of spun-up hoaxes and smear campaigns.
Fast forward to 2019 and the beginning of COVID-19. Public trust in media had risen back to pre-Trump levels. Gallup’s study records 41 percent of Americans saying they had trust. After months of so-called scientific “experts” flooding media warning every American to get vaccinated, stay home, and wear masks, the trust began to fade, again.
By the end of Joe Biden’s presidency, the public shifted beyond the 2015-2016 levels of distrust, with only 31 percent of Americans believing their TV, radio, and newspapers.
1 comment:
1964 Gallup Poll - does the federal government do the right thing most of the time - 75% affirmative, 1994 - 15% affirmative, today zero affirmative.
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