The findings preceded the erroneous initial reports by cable-news networks CNN and Fox News regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's June 28 decision about the constitutionality of the U.S. health care law.

The findings are from Gallup's annual update on confidence in U.S. institutions. Among 16 U.S. institutions tested, television news ranks 11th, following newspapers in 10th place. Confidence in newspapers is now half of what it was at its peak of 51 percent in 1979. Television news declined from 27 percent last year and from 46 percent when Gallup started tracking confidence in television news in 1993.

Liberals and moderates lost so much confidence in television news this year — 11 and 10 points, respectively — that their views are now more akin to conservatives' views. Many of the groups that lost confidence in television news also tended to lose confidence in newspapers, though to a lesser degree. These include liberals, older Americans, men and postgraduates.