NBC News is parting ways with its sister network, MSNBC, in a move that includes significant staff reductions. NBC announced a 7% cut of its 2,000 newsroom employees, alongside a 2% reduction across the broader company. Notably, the majority of those laid off were part of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team, with at least 150 employees focused on “covering issues affecting Black, Asian American, Latino, and LGBTQ+ groups” affected.

Allegedly, the cuts were “driven by the network’s budget and the desire to streamline its editorial efforts,” and were not intended to “target specific teams.” However, the disproportionate impact on DEI staff has sparked debate about whether this was coincidental or deliberate. Regardless, NBC has encouraged affected employees to apply for other open roles within the organization.

This follows a pattern of layoffs at NBC, with a January reduction of about 40 staffers also reportedly affecting DEI teams. The cuts also come amid declining TV ratings and ad revenue for the news group, both trends aligning with broader challenges in the media industry. In fact, the broader context of these patterns was highlighted in a recent Gallup poll.

Earlier this month, The Washington Stand reported on the poll, highlighting how “nine months into President Donald Trump’s second administration, the American public’s trust in mainstream media has cratered to an all-time record low.” At least 36% of Americans reported having little trust in the media, while 34% confessed “they have no trust in the media at all, totaling 70% who simply do not trust mainstream media outlets.” Why the distrust? Some analysts suggest this distrust stems from a prominent left-leaning bias in numerous outlets.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken steps to curb federal funding for certain media organizations. In May, President Trump’s executive order, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to halt federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), emphasizing his own push against media bias. His order specifically states that “federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage,” accusing NPR and PBS of failing to present “a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”

The tangible consequences of declining trust, whether manifesting in reduced viewership or federal policy changes, appear to be reshaping the media industry. To explore this, Joseph Backholm, senior fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council, spoke with The Washington Stand.

Reflecting on the Gallup poll, Backholm noted that “the record low trust in media is requiring corporate media organizations to make real changes because they’re at risk of going extinct. They depend on trust to exist.” He highlighted moves by some outlets, such as CBS hiring less ideologically-driven editors like Bari Weiss, whom Backholm described as “a real departure from the hyper partisanship they’ve been engaged in.”

Backholm suggested that these changes could signal a shift in priorities. “It’s possible they want to try to be an actual news organization instead of an advocacy organization dressed as a news organization,” he argued. And if so, “Cutting DEI programs would be consistent with this effort because they have nothing to do with creating news and are largely an expensive virtue signal.”

Ultimately, if news groups want to regain the trust of the American people, Backholm stressed that they must “commit to stopping their hyper partisanship.” Even with 70% of Americans having low to no trust in the media, “it’s possible to regain trust,” Backholm said, “but it takes a very long time.”

However, Backholm cautioned that the demand for partisan news complicates the issue. “It’s also true that Americans generally want partisan news. Most people want someone to tell them what they already think and turn off news organizations that tell them something they disagree with.” This, he noted, is where Christians come into view, emphasizing a need for discernment when navigating the media landscape.

As Backholm put it, “Christians need to evaluate everything with a healthy dose of skepticism and a relentless interest in the truth. Sometimes people we like say things that aren’t true and sometimes people we don’t like say things that are true.” As believers, he concluded, “We have to care more about the truth than the messenger if we’re going to avoid being deceived.”