{"id":287442,"date":"2026-02-11T06:50:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&#038;p=287442"},"modified":"2026-02-11T06:50:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:50:23","slug":"majority-of-americans-express-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-publics-best-interests","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/02\/11\/majority-of-americans-express-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-publics-best-interests\/","title":{"rendered":"Majority of Americans express low confidence in journalists to act in public\u2019s best interests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=287447\"><img data-dominant-color=\"616375\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-287447 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #616375; width:640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=720,405 720w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=200,113 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=260,146 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=310,174 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=420,236 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=740,416 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=540,304 540w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=564,317 564w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=1128,634 1128w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=690,388 690w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=268,151 268w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=536,302 536w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=194,110 194w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=148,84 148w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/SR_26.02.05_news_confidence_featured.jpg?resize=296,168 296w\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A reporter takes notes during an interview in Pasadena, California. (Kirby Lee\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<details data-wp-context=\"{&quot;closeWhenFocusLost&quot;:false,&quot;knightCollectionUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.pewresearch.org\\\/collections\\\/pew-knight-initiative\\\/&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/details\" class=\"wp-block-details is-style-pew-knight-co-branded has-border-color has-ui-gray-light-border-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background has-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-fe3d8243 wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--ui-gray-light);border-top-width:1px;border-right-style:none;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--ui-gray-light);border-bottom-width:1px;border-left-style:none;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:0;font-size:clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.009), 0.88em);\"><summary data-wp-on--click=\"actions.handleSummaryClick\">Pew Knight Initiative<\/summary>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-24afb64e wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e45698d42be7f81c04346bc92b13d960 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.114), 15px);\">The Pew-Knight Initiative supports new research on how Americans absorb civic information, form beliefs and identities, and engage in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-71d33df5fe0a5557a359a0a0336848b7 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.114), 15px);\">Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Knight Foundation is a social investor committed to supporting informed and engaged communities. <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/pew-knight\/\"><strong>Learn more &gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A majority of Americans (57%) express low confidence in journalists to act in the best interests of the public, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis from the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/collections\/pew-knight-initiative\/\">Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a>. This includes 40% who say they have not too much confidence and 17% who say they have none at all. By comparison, 43% of adults say they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in journalists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aligncenter has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bd6cbb4d wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><figure class=\"wp-chart-builder\">\t\t<div style=\"max-width:420px\" class=\"wp-chart-builder-wrapper alignnone wp-block-prc-chart-builder-controller\" id=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/controller\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3&quot;,&quot;postId&quot;:287442,&quot;postUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/short-reads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/11\\\/majority-of-americans-express-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-publics-best-interests\\\/&quot;,&quot;chartPostUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/chart\\\/majority-of-u-s-adults-say-they-have-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-the-publics-best-interests\\\/&quot;,&quot;postPubDate&quot;:&quot;2026-02-11&quot;,&quot;rootUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org&quot;,&quot;featuredImageId&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;featuredImageUrl&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Majority of U.S. adults say they have low confidence in journalists to act in the public\\u2019s best interests&quot;,&quot;subtitle&quot;:&quot;% of U.S. adults who have __ in journalists to act in the best interests of the public&quot;,&quot;note&quot;:&quot;Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown.&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. &quot;,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE&quot;,&quot;tableData&quot;:{&quot;header&quot;:[&quot;&quot;,&quot;group&quot;,&quot;A great deal of confidence&quot;,&quot;A fair amount of confidence&quot;,&quot;Not too much confidence&quot;,&quot;No confidence at all&quot;],&quot;rows&quot;:[[&quot;All U.S. adults&quot;,&quot;all&quot;,&quot;6%&quot;,&quot;37%&quot;,&quot;40%&quot;,&quot;17%&quot;],[&quot;Rep\\\/Lean Rep&quot;,&quot;party&quot;,&quot;2%&quot;,&quot;22%&quot;,&quot;47%&quot;,&quot;28%&quot;],[&quot;Dem\\\/Lean Dem&quot;,&quot;party&quot;,&quot;9%&quot;,&quot;52%&quot;,&quot;32%&quot;,&quot;6%&quot;]],&quot;footer&quot;:[]}}\" data-wp-init--detect-web-share-support=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\" data-wp-init--sync-table-height=\"callbacks.syncTableHeight\" data-png-url=\"\" data-has-csv=\"true\" data-post-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/02\/11\/majority-of-americans-express-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-publics-best-interests\/\" data-chart-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/chart\/majority-of-u-s-adults-say-they-have-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-the-publics-best-interests\/\" data-chart-title=\"Majority of U.S. adults say they have low confidence in journalists to act in the public\u2019s best interests\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-allow-overlay=\"true\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-inner wp-block-prc-chart-builder-chart\" id=\"chart-block-2\" data-wp-key=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3-chart\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-router-region=\"chart-bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3-chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3-chart&quot;}\" data-wp-watch--init-render=\"callbacks.watchForRender\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.watchForResize\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__text-wrapper\" style=\"max-width:420px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 0 0 10px; max-width:420px;\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\">Majority of U.S. adults say they have low confidence in journalists to act in the public\u2019s best interests<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\">% of U.S. adults who have __ in journalists to act in the best interests of the public<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3-chart\"><div class=\"chart-fallback chart-fallback--placeholder\" style=\"width:420px;min-height:200px;\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\">Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\">Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\">PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0; max-width:420px;\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t<!-- register a callback on this div to see if the native share is supported -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__overlay\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"share-modal__overlay-bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t><\/div>\n\t\t\t<!-- TODO: I would like to be able to use the social share block here. Need to modify it to work with the share modal. -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal\" id=\"share-modal-bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"share-modal__title\">Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"share-modal__close\" aria-label=\"Close Share Modal\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--twitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on X<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\" id=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3-table\" style=\"max-width:420px;\">\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 420px;\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\">Majority of U.S. adults say they have low confidence in journalists to act in the public\u2019s best interests<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\">% of U.S. adults who have __ in journalists to act in the best interests of the public<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table__inner\" style=\"max-width: 420px !important; margin-bottom: 0; overflow: auto;\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table is-scroll-on-pc is-scroll-on-mobile chart-builder-data-table has-sans-serif-font-family has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout is-sticky-first-column\" style=\"min-width:800px\"><thead><tr><th style=\"line-height:1.1;width:20%\"><\/th><th class=\"is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden\" style=\"line-height:1.1\">group<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center;line-height:1.1\">A great deal of confidence<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center;line-height:1.1\">A fair amount of confidence<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center;line-height:1.1\">Not too much confidence<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center;line-height:1.1\">No confidence at all<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td style=\"width:20%\">All U.S. adults<\/td><td class=\"is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden\">all<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">6%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">37%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">40%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">17%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:20%\">Rep\/Lean Rep<\/td><td class=\"is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden\">party<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">2%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">22%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">47%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">28%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:20%\">Dem\/Lean Dem<\/td><td class=\"is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden is-column-hidden\">party<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">9%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">52%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">32%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">6%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__download-data-button-hr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__download-data-button\">\n\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"has-sans-serif-font-family\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\tDownload data as .csv\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\">Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\">Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. <\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\">PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE<\/div>\n\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 420px;\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons\" style=\"max-width:420px;\"><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__tabs\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-chart-id=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Chart<\/button><button class=\"view-button view-button--table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-chart-id=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Data<\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__actions\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--share\" data-chart-view=\"share\" data-chart-id=\"bb7213f6-8ea9-432f-a828-59caae90fbd3\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Share<\/button><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In our <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2024\/11\/14\/trust-in-science-2024-appendix\/ps_2024-11-14_trust-in-science_a-02\/\">past surveys<\/a>, the public has expressed less confidence in journalists than in several other institutions and professions, such as the military, scientists and police officers. Other survey questions have also found relatively <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/29\/how-americans-trust-in-information-from-news-organizations-and-social-media-sites-has-changed-over-time\/\">low trust in news organizations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Related:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/02\/11\/americans-complicated-relationship-with-news\/\">Americans&#8217; Complicated Relationship With News<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-style-plus-icon has-border-color has-ui-gray-light-border-color has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background has-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-61b01db2 wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.009), 0.88em);\"><summary>About this research<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This analysis from the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/collections\/pew-knight-initiative\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a> looks at how confident Americans are in journalists to act in the best interests of the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why we did this<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center regularly asks Americans about their <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2026\/01\/15\/trust-in-science-2026-appendix\/ps_2026-1-15-trust-in-science_a-01\/\">confidence in different groups and institutions<\/a>. This research aims to better understand changes in these perceptions over time and adds to our ongoing exploration of Americans\u2019 views of the news media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We asked this question as a part of <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/02\/11\/americans-complicated-relationship-with-news\/\">a larger Pew-Knight Initiative study<\/a> that explores how Americans think about their role in the news environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pew Research Center<\/a> and our <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/topic\/news-habits-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">research on news habits and media<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How we did this<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We surveyed 3,560 U.S. adults from Dec. 8 to 14, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">American Trends Panel<\/a>. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also conducted nine online focus group discussions led by PSB Insights with 45 U.S. adults from June 10 to 18, 2025. These discussions do not represent the entire U.S. population. Quotes were lightly edited for spelling, punctuation and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_questionnaire.pdf\">survey questions<\/a> used for this analysis, the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_topline.pdf\">detailed responses<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/02\/11\/methodology-role-of-news-consumers\/\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a Pew Research Center report from the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program funded jointly by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Find related reports online at <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/pew-knight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/pew-knight\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We continue to find <strong>large differences by political party<\/strong> on this topic. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (61%) are more than twice as likely as Republicans and GOP leaners (25%) to say they have confidence in journalists to act in the best interests of the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bd6cbb4d wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><figure class=\"wp-chart-builder\">\t\t<div style=\"max-width:420px\" class=\"wp-chart-builder-wrapper alignnone wp-block-prc-chart-builder-controller\" id=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/controller\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c&quot;,&quot;postId&quot;:287442,&quot;postUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/short-reads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/11\\\/majority-of-americans-express-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-publics-best-interests\\\/&quot;,&quot;chartPostUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/chart\\\/democrats-are-much-more-confident-than-republicans-that-journalists-act-in-the-best-interests-of-the-public\\\/&quot;,&quot;postPubDate&quot;:&quot;2026-02-11&quot;,&quot;rootUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org&quot;,&quot;featuredImageId&quot;:null,&quot;featuredImageUrl&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Democrats are more confident than Republicans that journalists act in the best interests of the public&quot;,&quot;subtitle&quot;:&quot;% of __ who have &lt;b \\\/&gt;a great deal or a fair amount of confidence&lt;\\\/b&gt; in journalists to act in the best interests of the public &quot;,&quot;note&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. For dates of other surveys, &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/20\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_topline.pdf\\&quot;&gt;refer to the topline&lt;\\\/a&gt;.&quot;,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE&quot;,&quot;tableData&quot;:{&quot;header&quot;:[&quot;Date&quot;,&quot;All U.S. adults&quot;,&quot;Rep\\\/Lean Rep&quot;,&quot;Dem\\\/Lean Dem&quot;],&quot;rows&quot;:[[&quot;2020-04-26&quot;,&quot;48%&quot;,&quot;23%&quot;,&quot;70%&quot;],[&quot;2020-11-29&quot;,&quot;45%&quot;,&quot;17%&quot;,&quot;71%&quot;],[&quot;2022-09-18&quot;,&quot;44%&quot;,&quot;23%&quot;,&quot;64%&quot;],[&quot;2023-10-01&quot;,&quot;42%&quot;,&quot;21%&quot;,&quot;61%&quot;],[&quot;2024-10-27&quot;,&quot;45%&quot;,&quot;23%&quot;,&quot;66%&quot;],[&quot;2025-04-20&quot;,&quot;45%&quot;,&quot;27%&quot;,&quot;62%&quot;],[&quot;2025-10-01&quot;,&quot;47%&quot;,&quot;27%&quot;,&quot;69%&quot;],[&quot;2025-12-01&quot;,&quot;43%&quot;,&quot;25%&quot;,&quot;61%&quot;]],&quot;footer&quot;:[]}}\" data-wp-init--detect-web-share-support=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\" data-wp-init--sync-table-height=\"callbacks.syncTableHeight\" data-png-url=\"\" data-has-csv=\"true\" data-post-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/02\/11\/majority-of-americans-express-low-confidence-in-journalists-to-act-in-publics-best-interests\/\" data-chart-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/chart\/democrats-are-much-more-confident-than-republicans-that-journalists-act-in-the-best-interests-of-the-public\/\" data-chart-title=\"Democrats are more confident than Republicans that journalists act in the best interests of the public\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-allow-overlay=\"true\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-inner wp-block-prc-chart-builder-chart\" id=\"chart-block-4\" data-wp-key=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c-chart\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-router-region=\"chart-e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c-chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c-chart&quot;}\" data-wp-watch--init-render=\"callbacks.watchForRender\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.watchForResize\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__text-wrapper\" style=\"max-width:420px;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 0 0 10px; max-width:420px;\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\">Democrats are more confident than Republicans that journalists act in the best interests of the public<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\">% of __ who have <b \/>a great deal or a fair amount of confidence<\/b> in journalists to act in the best interests of the public <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c-chart\"><div class=\"chart-fallback chart-fallback--placeholder\" style=\"width:420px;min-height:200px;\"><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\">Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. For dates of other surveys, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_topline.pdf\">refer to the topline<\/a>.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\">PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0; max-width:420px;\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t<!-- register a callback on this div to see if the native share is supported -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__overlay\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"share-modal__overlay-e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t><\/div>\n\t\t\t<!-- TODO: I would like to be able to use the social share block here. Need to modify it to work with the share modal. -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal\" id=\"share-modal-e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"share-modal__title\">Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"share-modal__close\" aria-label=\"Close Share Modal\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--twitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on X<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\" id=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c-table\" style=\"max-width:420px;\">\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 420px;\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\">Democrats are more confident than Republicans that journalists act in the best interests of the public<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\">% of __ who have <b \/>a great deal or a fair amount of confidence<\/b> in journalists to act in the best interests of the public <\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table__inner\" style=\"max-width: 420px !important; margin-bottom: 0; overflow: auto;\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table is-scroll-on-pc is-scroll-on-mobile chart-builder-data-table has-sans-serif-font-family has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout is-sticky-first-column\"><thead><tr><th>Date<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center\">All U.S. adults<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center\">Rep\/Lean Rep<\/th><th style=\"text-align:center\">Dem\/Lean Dem<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>2020-04-26<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">48%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">23%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">70%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2020-11-29<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">45%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">17%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">71%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2022-09-18<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">44%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">23%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">64%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2023-10-01<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">42%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">21%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">61%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2024-10-27<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">45%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">23%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">66%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2025-04-20<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">45%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">27%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">62%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2025-10-01<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">47%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">27%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">69%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2025-12-01<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">43%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">25%<\/td><td style=\"text-align:center\">61%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__download-data-button-hr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__download-data-button\">\n\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"has-sans-serif-font-family\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\tDownload data as .csv\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note\">Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025. For dates of other surveys, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_topline.pdf\">refer to the topline<\/a>.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\">PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE<\/div>\n\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 420px;\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons\" style=\"max-width:420px;\"><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__tabs\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-chart-id=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Chart<\/button><button class=\"view-button view-button--table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-chart-id=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Data<\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__actions\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--share\" data-chart-view=\"share\" data-chart-id=\"e6db83a3-246b-48c2-b348-f3e948d8399c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Share<\/button><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since we first started asking this question in 2020, Democrats have consistently been more likely than Republicans to express confidence in journalists. This party gap has persisted over time, though it has decreased since 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This pattern mirrors past Center findings that Democrats are both <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/29\/how-americans-trust-in-information-from-news-organizations-and-social-media-sites-has-changed-over-time\/\">more trusting of the information they get from national and local news organizations<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2025\/06\/10\/the-political-gap-in-americans-news-sources\/\">more likely than Republicans to use and trust many major news sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of the new survey, we also conducted focus groups with 45 Americans. Regardless of political party, some of the participants in these focus groups described this broader loss of confidence in the news industry, saying they no longer know who or what to trust. For example, a Democratic woman in her 50s said, \u201cWe don\u2019t have any really good journalists right now that are doing accurate news.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some participants said they now <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/02\/11\/why-americans-think-news-habits-are-changing-in-their-own-words\/\">curate their news more carefully<\/a>, whether by verifying what they come across or by narrowing their consumption to a small set of trusted sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt used to be, as a kid, I could just turn on the news on TV and it\u2019s like everything is believable and credible,\u201d a Republican woman in her 40s said. \u201cBut in a world where everything has become much more biased, and there\u2019s unreliable and biased sources, you have to kind of take things with a grain of salt and look at where is it coming from, and who\u2019s the source, and what is their main goal? And you just have to put a filter on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: <em>Former Research Analyst Jacob Liedke contributed to this analysis.<\/em><\/em> <em>Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_questionnaire.pdf\">survey questions<\/a> used for this analysis, the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/02\/PJ_2026.02.11_role-of-news-consumers_topline.pdf\">detailed responses<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/02\/11\/methodology-role-of-news-consumers\/\">methodology<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>57% of U.S. adults say they have not too much (40%) or no confidence (17%) in journalists to act in the best interests of the 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