Trust in media is low because authoritarians and their apologists know how important it is to undermine anyone who can hold them to account for their crimes against the public good. They have learned to aggressively demonise journalists who come from a tradition of fact checking and responsible reporting, in favour of sycophantic hacks who will happily spew the authoritarian position in exchange for a few ducats or an invitation to the annual Despots' Gala.