According to Fortune, a new study from the News Literacy Project reveals that 84% of American teens aged 13-18 describe today’s news media with negative words like “biased,” “crazy,” “fake,” and “depressing.” More than half believe journalists regularly engage in unethical behaviors like making up details or quotes, while less than a third think reporters correct errors or confirm facts before publishing. The survey highlights a deep generational distrust that’s shaping how young people consume information, with many getting news primarily from social media platforms rather than traditional sources.
The Generational Trust Gap
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just kids being cynical. They’re reflecting what they see around them. When the most prominent political figure of their generation has made “fake news” a mantra, and when they see high-profile journalistic mistakes making headlines, why would they trust us? Peter Adams from the News Literacy Project puts it perfectly: “Some of this attitude is earned, but much of it is based on misperception.”
But there’s another layer to this. These kids didn’t grow up with parents who religiously watched the evening news. They didn’t see movies like “All the President’s Men” that showed journalism as a noble profession. When asked what movies come to mind about journalism, most cited “Spider-Man” or “Anchorman” – neither exactly portraying reporters as heroes. They’re literally starting from zero when it comes to understanding what legitimate journalism even looks like.
Newsroom Reality Check
Meanwhile, the industry itself has been hollowed out by two decades of financial struggles. Fewer journalists means fewer opportunities for young people to encounter quality reporting. And when they do see journalism in action, like Northwestern’s student newspaper exposing hazing that got a coach fired, some students still think the paper exists to protect power rather than hold it accountable.
Basically, we’re dealing with a perfect storm: financial collapse leading to fewer quality outlets, political attacks on media credibility, and a generation that’s never been taught how to distinguish between real journalism and the noise. The broader public’s declining trust in media isn’t helping either.
Solutions and Resistance
There are answers, but they require actual work. News literacy programs in schools show promise – when 16-year-old Rhett MacFarlane learned about fact-checking, he realized “you guys are professionals and you have to tell the truth or you’d be fired.” Before that? He thought journalists just said whatever they wanted.
But these programs are rare. Schools are already overwhelmed with curriculum requirements, and let’s be honest – sticking your neck out for journalists isn’t exactly popular. Howard Schneider, who runs SUNY Stony Brook’s Center for News Literacy, calls this “an urgent issue” plagued by inertia. The research backs him up – exposure to legitimate news actually improves attitudes, but you have to get them that exposure first.
Meeting Them Where They Are
Cat Murphy, the 21-year-old journalism student featured in the piece, nails the fundamental problem: “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’s absolutely right. The industry’s resistance to meaningful social media engagement and adapting to new consumption habits isn’t helping.
So where does this leave us? With a generation that sees journalism as “screaming into the void” while the industry struggles to adapt. The full survey findings make for sobering reading. But the students quoted – Murphy, Lily Ogburn, Brianne Boyack – give me hope. They understand the problem better than most industry veterans, and they’re determined to fix it. Maybe that’s where the real solution lies.
