Clark County readers show growing trust in local news outlets

Residents of Clark County now place more faith in their local newspapers than any other news source in the country. Recent surveys show that 64% of U.S. adults trust local news outlets at least somewhat. This figure surpasses trust in friends and family, national newspapers, and network television.

The rise in confidence is part of a wider trend affecting the entire news industry. Gallup polling found that 33% of Americans trusted mass media in September 2026. This is an increase from 28% in September 2025. The shift is particularly evident among Republican voters.

Trust among Republicans in national news outlets has recovered significantly. Pew Research Center data shows that 50% of Republicans now trust national media. This is up from a low of 35% in June 2021. Local news enjoys even higher support within that group, with 69% of Republicans expressing trust.

Eric Schurenberg, founder of the Alliance for Trust in Media, suggests that transparency helps build this confidence. He described a recent experiment with the Texas Tribune. The outlet allowed a group of rural readers to send questions directly to newsroom leaders. Those readers were less likely to believe journalists biased or made up stories compared to a control group without that access.

Schurenberg noted that seeing professionals try to get things right changes perceptions. He stated that when people are open to input, the scales fall from their eyes. He believes the news industry has become more sensitive to how its behavior is perceived. He also observed that pre-election coverage by major outlets was more measured this cycle.

Despite the rebound, challenges remain. A survey by NORC at the University of Chicago found that 77% of Republicans believe most journalists manipulate news for political or commercial purposes. Only 37% of all adults believe most journalists report as accurately as possible. Schurenberg suggested that continued evidence of reliable reporting will help counter long-standing misconceptions.

The data indicates that local news is currently the most trusted source for U.S. adults. This stands in contrast to national outlets, which are trusted by 56% of adults. Network television is trusted by 54%. These figures suggest that local journalism plays a distinct role in shaping public understanding of current events.