Teen Trust in News Collapses, But Local Voices Hold Power

December 1, 2025

A recent News Literacy Project study reveals deepening mistrust of news media among Americans, particularly teenagers, with 84% using negative descriptors and many believing journalists fabricate information or deceive audiences. This crisis is compounded by presidential attacks on reporters through insults, a government website labeling outlets as biased, and regulatory scrutiny of broadcast networks. Research by Anita Varma suggests trust can be rebuilt through community-focused journalism that prioritizes lived experiences over political spectacle, an approach already valued by audiences who identify local newspapers as their most trusted information source.

Who is affected

American teenagers and younger audiences who increasingly distrust news media
Journalists and reporters facing public hostility, insults, and delegitimization attempts
Bloomberg, ABC, and other major media outlets targeted by presidential criticism
Washington D.C. residents who rely on local community reporting
Marginalized communities, particularly Black people, whose lived experiences are underrepresented in mainstream coverage
Local newspapers and community newsrooms working to maintain credibility

What action is being taken

The president is intensifying public hostility toward journalists through insults during press briefings, gaggles, and interviews
The administration operates a website labeling outlets as "biased" and categorizing journalists under headings like "malpractice"
Federal regulators are examining broadcast networks
Lawsuits are being pursued against major media companies
The president is posting social media criticism of television station ownership rules

Why it matters

This crisis matters because without trusted reporting, misinformation spreads more easily and quickly, particularly among teens who cannot identify credible sources and become vulnerable to manipulated content, conspiracy narratives, and political disinformation. The breakdown of trust threatens democracy itself, as 85% of Americans consider local newspapers essential to democratic functioning. When national coverage prioritizes political spectacle over community realities, the gap between what audiences need and what outlets deliver widens, undermining journalism's fundamental role in informing citizens about policies, services, and decisions affecting their daily lives.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer