Trust in the media hasn't been high for decades but a new poll from Gallup shows fewer Americans trusting the mainstream media.

In 1999 55% of Americans said they trusted the media; today that number stands at 40%. And while there is a strong divide based on political party support, trust is still down across the board.

Among self-identified Republicans just 32% say they trust the mass media; among independents support sits at just 33%, while 55% of Democrats say they trust the mass media.

Conservatives have long claimed a left-wing media bias, a fact perhaps confirmed by the fact that far more Democrats say they can trust the media. Gallup cites a general drop in the trust Americans put in institutions - including government - as well as self-inflicted wounds such as Brian Williams "misremembering" details of his time in Iraq.