Journal of Communication | 2019
The Social Context of Media Trust: A Network Influence Model
Abstract
Concerns about the low public trust in U.S. media institutions have recently deepened amid increasing partisan polarization, large-scale digital disinformation campaigns, and frequent attacks on the press from political elites. This study explores the social factors that shape our trust in mainstream news sources. An examination of longitudinal network data from thirteen residential student communities highlights the importance of interpersonal influence on views about the media. The results show that the media trust of participants is predicted by the trust scores of their online and offline social contacts. The most robust and consistent effect comes from face-to-face interaction with politically like-minded conversation partners. Among online social ties, the analysis finds effects from contact with others who distrust the media but not from communication with people who report high levels of media trust.