A lost generation of news consumers? Survey shows how teenagers dislike the news media

American Teens Show Deep Distrust of Journalism, Survey Finds

Cat Murphy, a 21-year-old graduate student at the University of Maryland’s journalism school, has wanted to be a journalist since she was 11. But her career choice often prompts skepticism from friends who see the news media as a cacophony of untrustworthy voices in a declining industry.

“There is a lot of commentary — ‘Oh, good for you. Look what you’re walking into. You’re going to be screaming into the void. You’re going to be useless,'” Murphy said.

Her experience mirrors the findings of a recent study by the News Literacy Project that documented deeply negative attitudes toward journalism among American teenagers. The survey revealed that 84% of teens aged 13-18 described today’s news media with negative words such as “biased,” “crazy,” “boring,” “fake,” “bad,” “depressing,” “confusing,” and “scary.”

More troublingly, over half of surveyed teens believe journalists routinely engage in unethical practices like fabricating quotes, paying sources, manipulating images, and doing favors for advertisers. Fewer than one-third believe reporters follow fundamental journalistic principles like fact-checking, error correction, and gathering information from multiple sources.

“Some of this attitude is earned, but much of it is based on misperception,” said Peter Adams, senior vice president of research and design for the Washington-based News Literacy Project.

The skepticism reflects broader societal trends. Teens largely mirror the attitudes they’re exposed to at home, particularly during an era when politicians have weaponized terms like “fake news.” Additionally, few teens follow news regularly or receive formal education about journalism’s purpose and methods.

Industry factors contribute to the problem. Financial troubles have hollowed out newsrooms nationwide, leaving fewer journalists to cover important stories. High-profile journalistic mistakes or ethical lapses further damage public perception, while the proliferation of opinion-driven reporting blurs the line between fact and commentary.

Unlike previous generations, today’s teens rarely encounter positive portrayals of journalism in popular culture. When asked about movies or TV shows featuring journalism, two-thirds couldn’t name any. Those who did most frequently mentioned “Spider-Man” or “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” – neither presenting particularly flattering depictions of the profession.

Lily Ogburn, former editor-in-chief of the Daily Northwestern student newspaper, has witnessed this disconnect firsthand. Many of her classmates get information exclusively from social media and misunderstand journalism’s core purpose.

“There’s a lot of mistrust toward journalists,” said Ogburn, whose newspaper’s investigation into alleged hazing and racism within the school’s football program led to the coach’s dismissal. But rather than discourage her, the skepticism has strengthened her resolve. “I want to be a journalist that people trust, and I want to report news that makes people believe and trust in the media.”

Howard Schneider, executive director of SUNY Stony Brook’s Center for News Literacy, sees education as the key to reversing these trends. After retiring as editor of Newsday, he shifted his focus to teaching non-journalists how to become critical news consumers.

“The negativity, the feeling that news is biased, is just a reflection of how their parents feel,” Schneider said. “The more exposed to news, legitimate news, the more their attitudes turn positive.”

This approach is showing promise in classrooms where news literacy is taught. Brianne Boyack, a 16-year-old at Brighton High School in Utah, entered her news literacy course with little trust in journalism but has learned to verify sources and identify reliable outlets.

Her classmate, Rhett MacFarlane, now applies critical thinking skills to information he encounters. “I’ve learned that there is definitely fact-checking in journalism,” MacFarlane said. “You guys are professionals and you have to tell the truth or you’d be fired. I thought you guys just did whatever you wanted and chose what to say about a topic.”

Despite these success stories, news literacy programs remain relatively rare in American schools. Curricula are already crowded, and the media’s poor reputation makes it difficult for educators to advocate for such programs.

Murphy believes the journalism industry itself needs to adapt. “There’s very little movement in the direction of going to where people are, as opposed to expecting them to come to where you are,” she said, pointing to many news outlets’ inadequate use of social media and digital platforms where younger audiences gather.

“The only way to turn it around is going to be to switch to doing things that captivate people today, as opposed to captivating people 20 years ago.”