A new Gallup poll reveals that only 28% of U.S. adults now say they trust the media to report news “fully, accurately, and fairly” — the lowest level in over 50 years of polling.
Meanwhile, 36% say they have “not very much” confidence in media institutions, and 34% say they have “none at all.”
Gallup has tracked this metric since 1972, when confidence levels started at around 68%.
Trust varies sharply by age and political affiliation.
Among Republicans, confidence plunged to just 8%. Independents registered 21%, and Democrats 51%, each matching historic lows.
Older Americans still show more faith: 43% of respondents 65 and over said they trust the media, while no younger group surpassed 28%.
Gallup analysts warn that the drop in trust among younger Democrats could drag national confidence even lower unless trust recovers among other groups as well.
North Texas Media: Local Voices Dwindle
These national trends matter deeply in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, where local journalism is rapidly falling under external control. Until recently, The Dallas Morning News stood as one of the few large-scale papers still linked to its home city — but that is officially changing.
On September 23, 2025, shareholders of DallasNews Corporation voted overwhelmingly to approve a merger with Hearst for $16.50 per share. The deal effectively ends the outlet’s public status, bringing it under Hearst’s control.
This vote also thwarted a competing effort by Alden Global Capital, which had raised its bid to $20 per share, to acquire DallasNews. The board and controlling family shareholders rejected the Alden approach, in part due to concerns over its reputation for slashing newsroom resources.
The sale is expected to close imminently. With this transition, the legacy of family-linked control over The Dallas Morning News — one of Texas’s oldest continuous institutions — will give way to corporate ownership.
Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is already under McClatchy’s umbrella, headquartered in New Jersey — further evidence that two of DFW’s historically dominant papers are now controlled from outside the region.
The Dallas Express: Last Stand for Local Control
With The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram now in non-local hands, The Dallas Express emerges as the sole major news outlet in DFW that remains locally owned. While national confidence in the media erodes, the distinction between community-rooted journalism and distant corporate operations is becoming increasingly significant.
In a climate of declining trust, local ownership may offer a path forward — not just for continuity, but for accountability and proximity to the people and issues of North Texas.