Here Are the Most Trusted Anchors on Each of The Cable News Networks, According to a New Poll
Screenshot via CNN (L)/Screenshot via Tucker Carlson Network (R)
A new survey on people’s trust in the media has found that faith in many news anchors is a bit lacking.
A Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult poll released Thursday found NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt topping the list of most-trusted anchors with 65% saying they trust him “a lot” or “some.” Another 16% said they have no or not much trust in Holt, while 19% said they don’t know him or have no opinion.
Following behind Holt were ABC News anchor David Muir with 63% putting a lot or some trust in him and CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell with 53% saying the same. The survey was conducted May 4-5 among more than 2,200 adults.
On the 24/7 cable news networks, CNN’s Anderson Cooper scored 60% for viewers who trust him a lot or some, and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow had 51% say the same. Another 25% and 33% said they do not trust them, respectively. Fox News host Sean Hannity split viewers more with just 38% saying they trust him and 45% saying they do not.
CNN’s Chris Wallace also found 60% of viewers putting a lot or some trust in him, same as Cooper. Fox News host Harris Faulkner and MSNBC’s Ali Velshi also found more than 50% putting some trust in them.
NewsNation anchor Dan Abrams, the founder of Mediaite, scored 48% on the trust metric, while 24% said they do not trust him at all or “not much.” Another 28% had no opinion.
Some former cable news anchors were also part of the survey, including Don Lemon, formerly of CNN, who scored 44% on trust with viewers, while 35% said they do not trust him. Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, both formerly of Fox News, scored 40% and 38% on the trust metric, while 40% and 49% doubt them, respectively.
Daily Show’s Jon Stewart was also included on the list despite not being a straight news anchor. The comedian found 57% of viewers have at least some trust in him, while 24% do not.
According to the poll, most people still trust network and cable news. For network news, 76% said they have a lot or some trust, while 21% do not. On the cable news front, 70% trust it while 27% have their doubts. News from social media sees a slight drop with 60% saying they put at least some trust in it while 38% do not.
Check out the entire list here.
