Survey Finds Most Americans Trust Local News Outlets

A new poll reveals a majority of U.S. adults trust local news despite concerns regarding potential media manipulation.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a classic press building facade, representing institutional trust and local news media. — A new NORC at the University of Chicago survey reveals that 65 percent of Americans maintain trust in local news outlets. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you generally trust national news organizations to report information without manipulation?

Sixty-five percent of Americans report having at least some trust in local news outlets, according to a recent survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. While local news maintains this support, a plurality of the public believes journalists manipulate information for political or commercial gain.

Why it matters

The findings highlight a significant divide in how the public perceives media integrity, particularly when comparing local news to broader institutional trust. Understanding these perceptions is essential for evaluating how citizens engage with information sources and perceive the role of the press in society.

The survey polled 1,057 adults between October 8 and October 12, 2026, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Results show that 77 percent of Republicans believe journalists manipulate news, compared to 24 percent of Democrats.

The players

NORC at the University of Chicago

This is an objective, non-partisan research institution that conducts national surveys and data analysis on a wide range of social and policy issues.

The details

Data collected by NORC indicates that only 37 percent of adults believe journalists attempt to report accurately, while many expressed widespread skepticism toward AI-generated content and social media sources. The study underscores a complex relationship between the American public and the various channels through which they receive information.

Survey interviews were conducted from October 8-12, 2026.
Survey findings were published on October 28, 2026.

Political Context

This data mirrors a long-term trend in American political discourse where institutional media trust fluctuates significantly based on partisan identification. Opposition often stems from concerns that media outlets prioritize a specific narrative over neutral reporting, fueling the divide between ideological groups.

The survey results indicate that most readers can expect to find varying levels of credibility across different media channels, requiring them to discern news quality personally. This split in perception may lead to different local communities prioritizing news sources that align with their own ideological expectations.

The takeaway

Maintaining media literacy is critical when navigating the current information landscape. Readers should verify information across multiple sources to ensure they are consuming accurate reporting.