Abstract:
In a turbulent era for journalism, America's overall tmst in the news media has been declining
for decades. While that tmst has recently returned (and even grown) among some groups,
opinions about the press have become another issue polarizing the nation. But beyond the
debates about "fake news" and the Twitter posts celebrating mass newsroom layoffs, there are
real j omnalists-real people-fighting to keep their jobs and show how much they care about
telling important stories. In this project, I analyze some of the main factors causing public
opinions about journalism to shift (including new technologies, divided politics, and changing
newsrooms), then reference conversations with media experts to explain why the drop in tmst
could be dangerous to democracy. And as the prima1y purpose for this project was to discover
what it might take for journalists to regain tmst, I conclude with a guide about focusing on
transparency, diversity, and community in the newsroom.
