Americans still have faith in local news — but few are willing to pay for it

Many Americans say they have lost trust in national news — but most still believe they can rely on the accuracy of local news.

In 2023, trust in national newspapers, TV and radio reached historic lows. Just 32% of Americans said they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in these news sources. In 1976, by comparison, 72% of Americans said they had a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in mass media, including newspapers, TV and radio.

And in 2021, the United States ranked last among 46 countries in the trust citizens placed in news outlets.

Yet even as the local news industry is declining in the U.S. — more than 3,200 local and regional newspapers have closed since 2005 — Americans still place much more trust in local news than they do in national news.

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