The Crisis of Trust in News Media:

A Call to Discernment for Faith-Led Communities!

 

Today, 57% of American adults' express low confidence in journalists to act in the public's best interests, and trust in mass media has fallen to a historic low of just 28% — the lowest since Gallup began tracking in 1972.

 

For Black communities, the crisis runs even deeper: 63% of Black Americans say news coverage of Black people is more negative than coverage of other groups, and recent mass layoffs have disproportionately eliminated journalists of color from major newsrooms, gutting teams dedicated to covering Black life with depth and nuance. At the same time, 59% of Americans believe artificial intelligence will reduce journalism jobs over the next two decades, threatening to further homogenize the narratives that shape public understanding.

 

As Black Christians in leadership and in daily life, we are called to be wise consumers of information — to seek truth with discernment, to support media voices that reflect our communities with integrity, and to recognize that the erosion of trustworthy journalism is not just a media problem but a justice issue that affects:

 

• how our stories are told,

• how our concerns are heard, and

• how our communities are understood.

 

Sources: Pew Research Center (2025–2026)  |  Gallup (2025)  |  Brookings Institution