Can mainstream media repair public trust? This might help.

#PublicTrust #MainstreamMedia Public trust in mainstream media remains low. According to a 2020 Gallup poll, "...the public remains largely distrustful of the mass media. Four in 10 U.S. adults say they have "a great deal" (9%) or "a fair amount" (31%) of trust and confidence in the media to report the news "fully, accurately, and fairly," while six in 10 have "not very much" trust (27%) or "none at all" (33%)." As a former TV news reporter, I show two videos that I believe reflect the wrong way, and the right way, to begin repairing the public's relationship with mainstream news. One is from a local TV station in Des Moines, Iowa and the other is Krystal Ball on Rising on The Hill.

KRYSTAL BALL VIDEO:

IOWA TV STATION VIDEO:

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[tulanelane]

When people are talked to in a condescending fashion they absolutely will tune out the message. That smug news director obviously doesn't believe that!

[lamp-stand]

His drippingly-presumptuous statement, "We're here to speak truth" only demonstrates there is a real problem.

[goodnplenty]

Trust is gone forever... been on a downward trend since the late 80’s... trust in politicians down since Vietnam and I bet the graphs show similarities in turning points

[CitizenRobertK]

My response to the "news" is almost autonomic, Pavlovian. I have been trained to distrust them; that they are not well-intentioned; that they are evil. I doubt their desire and their will to do their job with thoughtfulness and integrity. I don't foresee a day when trust in the media can be possible, at least not in what is left of my lifetime.

[kellyeldridge]

Your honesty and balanced approach gives me hope. Thank you

[Galt]

A return to keeping news and opinion strictly separate would be a start.

[archaicsage]

Honestly, for the vast majority, such a thing is an impossibility at this point.

[burnerjack]

Repairing trust is like trying to unpop a balloon. good luck with that.

[jeremymenning]

To quote Dr.Evil...







"How about no?"

[pennyantewest]

I only watch the news for the weather segment and only trust what they say when I look outside.

[georgedavis]

Thank you for reporting the news with out spin. I’m interested in the truth. Not talking heads on soapboxes.

[christinek]

Thank you for another interesting and well done post. About 35+ years ago, I took an elective college journalism class and distinctly remember having points deducted from assignments that exhibited any opinion or bias. It wasn't my field, but I had the impression that there were industry standards in place. The New York Times was something else entirely than it is today. I suspect that the political leanings of most journalists themselves, of the owners of media outlets, and last but not least, the culture of university academia have much to do with where the industry is today. I don't see public trust rising until the standards do.

[Spookdog]

It takes time to build trust and respect and a second to lose it, Crystal gets it.

[Dss]

no - journalism has done irreparable damage to itself.

[sdjohnston]

Excellent. I fear, however, the vast majority of legacy media are incapable of genuine self-criticism.

[Tampahop]

It is not the responsibility of news people to tell "the truth." They just need to report the facts. Let the audience form their own truth from the facts.

[gregory]

Why is it that the only reporters on my TV who have professional certifications are the ones who tell me when it's going to rain?

[philberto]

This is a major struggle across the different media platforms. I've seen so often where journalists trash "the idiots" for not trusting them, without taking any responsibility for the lack of trust. Until the media at large recognizes their part in what has happened, trust can't be re-established.

[JB-gwee]

Those are really good questions. It's hard to see much good faith with a lot of these people.

[carolinebenson]

You are trustworthy. And insightful. Good video. 👍