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Bad news for journalists: Gallup poll reports 60 percent of Americans distrustthe media

The quote etched on the Dallas Morning News' building sets a high standard that60 percent of the public doesn't believe the media achieves.
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Rush Limbaugh is arguably the most recognizable right-of-center televisionpersonality today. His show runs on the Fox News network.
Bill Maher hosts a popular left-of-center political show on MSNBC.

The media are some of America's favorite whipping boys, often blamed for promoting negative stories or focusing on extreme viewpoints. But a recent Gallup poll reveals that not only does the American public dislike the media, they don't trust us, either.

An astonishing 60 percent of people surveyed from September 6 to 9 told Gallup they have "little to no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly." That's the highest level of distrust since Gallup began polling Americans on this subject in the 1990s.

NBC's Brian Williams had a very timely report on Thursday's episode of Rock Center about the increasing polarization of the media, with a special emphasis on Fox News and MSNBC. The broadcast also featured New York Times media reporter David Carr, who referenced Fox network's $1 billion profit margin as the leading reason for the rise of opinion-based journalism.

Although there has always been a place for journalists to offer differing opinions, it used to be confined to the editorial page. Cable news networks blur the lines of objective reporting and commentary.

Television personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and Bill Maher make a living on inflammatory statements with little to no basis in fact.

Confusingly, their shows are broadcast on networks that purport to be an objective source of news during a different time slot. Such is the conundrum of cable news stations. Although the model of shouting ridiculous statements loudly and frequently brings in droves of revenue, it destroys credibility at the same break-neck pace.

Inevitably, journalists will have personal opinions. But is the mark of a good journalist to be able to pen an op-ed on gun control one day and turn around and present an objective profile on the head of the NRA the next? Or is the public unable to ever view a writer as "fair and balanced" once it finds out her personal preference on a subject?

I don't have an opinion on every story I've ever written, but I do, like any reasonable person will admit, have views on most major subjects of public debate. The challenge of my profession is to put aside my opinions when reporting the news and to articulate them clearly when I'm wearing my columnist hat.

The most logical solution would be to never allow writers who've openly expressed an opinion on a subject to turn around and cover that same issue in straight-news reporting. But with newsrooms slashing budgets and staff, that sounds like a pipe dream.

So news organizations — broadcast and print alike — are left with a bit of a catch-22: churn out inflammatory, opinionated reporting to generate revenue but lose trust, or produce objective reporting that builds trust but loses money. Is it any wonder which way networks are leaning?

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Money News

E.Sun Bank from Taiwan opens first location in buzzy Dallas market

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E. SUN Bank

There's a new bank in town: E.Sun Bank, a financial institution from Taiwan, has opened a representative office in Dallas, at 2323 Ross Ave #730 — becoming the first Taiwanese bank in the city.

Founded in 1992, E.Sun Bank is one of Taiwan’s leading financial institutions, known for its customer-centric approach, digital innovation, and commitment to sustainability, with a growing international footprint in 35 locations across 11 countries.

The Dallas office is the second E.Sun location in the U.S. following Los Angeles, expanding its footprint to serve Taiwanese, Asian, and U.S. enterprises.

It marks Phase 1 of E.Sun’s Dallas expansion, with plans to offer full banking services — including corporate and commercial lending, trade finance, real estate project loans, and cross-border advisory support — after they receive regulatory approval to operate as a U.S. branch. In the interim, clients will be referred to E.Sun’s Los Angeles branch, ensuring seamless service continuity and responsive support for businesses navigating international growth.

A press release notes that Dallas is riding "unprecedented momentum," leading the nation in corporate headquarters relocations and business expansions in recent years. (The release even credits CultureMap Dallas for this declaration, making this absolutely one of the best press releases ever sent out in the history of PR.)

Fueled by a pro-business climate, a surge in tech sector investment, and the launch of the Texas Stock Exchange, the region has become a magnet for international capital — including major commitments from Taiwanese companies such as GlobalWafers, Foxconn, Wistron, and Inventec.

To celebrate the opening of its Dallas office, E.Sun hosted a gala event on October 30 which was attended by Chairman Huang, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno, Director General Yvonne Hsiao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, members of the Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from both U.S. and Taiwanese enterprises. The evening culminated in a cultural performance by the E.Sun choir, symbolizing the bank’s commitment to bridging cultures as well as economies.

The Dallas office complements the recently launched Taiwan Trade and Investment Center and reflects the deepening partnership between Taiwan and Texas, a relationship further reinforced by record-setting bilateral trade — totalling $25.6 billion in 2024 — and the launch of a direct Taipei-Dallas flight, which underscore the growing ties between the two economies. And let's not forget Taiwan concepts like Chicha San Chen, the Taiwanese tea chain that recently opened a location in Carrollton, where it's drawing lines around the block.

“Our new Dallas office is more than geographic expansion—it’s a commitment to powering the economic synergy between Taiwan and Texas,” says E.SUN Financial Holding Company chairman Joseph Huang. “As the region attracts global capital and innovative industries, we are proud to serve as both catalyst and cornerstone for the next era of U.S.-Asia partnership, supporting Taiwanese enterprises and facilitating mutually beneficial investments.”

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