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Trust in news media

State of Play:

In ancient media times, when newspapers made money and three network news behemoths roamed the land, a vast majority of Americans trusted what they saw on television and read in the paper. No more: The slide in trust that began in the 1970s continues to this day, with fewer and fewer people believing what they find in the news cacophony. 
 


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in brief

When democracy and capitalism collide

In 1987, the Reagan administration achieved a long-sought goal of the American right: It won the war against fairness in broadcasting. What followed was both unexpected — and totally predictable.

Dec. 17, 2025

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