Being informed is a critical part of being an engaged citizen. Trusted sources of information are more important than ever, as they are key in helping citizens make informed decisions when it comes to discerning between, supporting and voting for people and policies that shape their lives.

Access to accurate information is more widely available now than ever before in history. But it’s also easier today, with so much content at our fingertips, to be influenced by misinformation, disinformation, and to give in to populist trends. An uninformed informed citizenry can be a serious threat to our democracy.

A watchdog free press, also known as the Fourth Estate, is an essential piece of a healthy democracy. But in 2024, many Americans disagree about where to access it and what news is accurate: only 32% of Americans report having a “great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the media.

Cue Joy Mayer, Founder and Director of the nonprofit project, Trusting News. Since 2016, the group has been equipping newsrooms with resources and training opportunities to earn trust and boost credibility among readers and viewers. Mayer and her colleagues work with groups all over the country, including the Community News Collaborative in Sarasota, FL and the Oklahoma Media Center, a consortium of news organizations in Oklahoma City, OK. The trainings that Trusting News and their partners provide help journalists listen to the community members that they serve, to better understand how news reporting is perceived and what can be done to build transparency and trust.