Reuters has released its 2026 Digital News Report, which shows the level of trust in specific media and brands. ABC News and NBC News were the most trusted national television news brands.
What We Know: Overall, trust in American news fell five percentage points from 2026. Only 25% of those surveyed said they trusted the news. That marks a new low since the survey began in 2015. Globally, trust in news overall rests at 37%, according to Reuters. Those saying TV is their primary source of consuming news content fell to 45% in 2026. That is down sharply from the 72% it featured in 2013.
What the Numbers Show:
| Brand | 2026 Trust % | 2025 Trust % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC News | 44% | 47% | ▼ -3% |
| CBS News | 38% | 48% | ▼ -10% |
| CNN | 40% | 46% | ▼ -6% |
| Fox News | 33% | 43% | ▼ -10% |
| NBC News | 44% | 44%* | — |
| MS NOW | 35% | 44%* | ▼ -9% |
What Remains Unclear: What led to specific decreases for Fox News and CBS News. Those two outlets each saw a 10% decline, while MS NOW saw a 9% drop compared to when it was paired with NBC News. The survey did not delve into why the trust levels in those brands declined.
What It Means: Some brands have to be thrilled that their change didn’t drop precipitously since last year. However, the greater concern should be the lack of trust in news overall, let alone the decline of television news as the primary source of content.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
