[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 144 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRUST IN MEDIA FALLS TO HISTORIC LOWS

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans' trust in the media has 
hit a historic low, according to a recent Gallup poll. Gallup found 
that only 32 percent of Americans have a great deal or even fair amount 
of confidence in the media to present the news fully, accurately, and 
fairly. This represents an 8 point drop from just a year ago. It also 
is the lowest level of trust in the media that Gallup has ever recorded 
since it first asked the question 46 years ago.
  Republicans' trust in media has dropped from 32 percent a year ago to 
14 percent today. This is ``easily the lowest confidence among 
Republicans in 20 years,'' says Gallup. Trust in the media among 
Democrats and Independents fell as well.
  The historic distrust of the media will continue until the media 
stops telling Americans what to think.

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