Media Trust Plunges as Newsrooms Lean Left

• A recent post by The Rabbit Hole points to fresh Gallup data showing a stark political imbalance in U.S. journalism. Democrats now make up over a third of all journalists, while Republicans account for barely 3%—the widest gap on record.

• This imbalance raises real concerns about credibility and representation. As newsrooms lose political diversity, critics worry editorial perspectives are narrowing, leaving conservatives feeling sidelined or misrepresented. The result: a press that’s lost its neutral footing, fueling polarization and pushing audiences toward partisan outlets or independent alternatives.

• The trust crisis shows up clearly in Gallup’s long-running media confidence survey (1972–2022). While 70% of Democrats still believe news organizations “report the news fully, accurately, and fairly,” only 14% of Republicans agree—and Independents sit at 27%. This growing divide hits media companies where it hurts: shrinking readership and lost ad revenue from skeptical conservative and centrist audiences.

As The Rabbit Hole puts it: “Legacy media is made and trusted primarily by Democrats.” The data backs this up—media trust has become partisan rather than universal.

• Looking back, the shift is dramatic. In 1971, newsrooms were fairly balanced: 35.5% Democrat, 25.7% Republican, 32.5% Independent. By 2022, Republican representation had nearly vanished, and Independents topped 50%. Yet despite this rise in “neutral” identification, both public perception and newsroom culture suggest a leftward lean.