You trust the news more because they are so honest and are known for having no bia? Well OK. I watched and read the news since the 70's and lived it. So going from that perspective things were worse then. Drive by shooting often didn't make the news as the happened numerous times a day in big cities and only the notable ones got published. Just like in my early years of working the unemployment rates were 5.8-11% for my first 10 years in the workforce, yet people think times are bad now. Along with times of double digit inflation(6-7% my first 5 working years) and double digit interest(9-10% mortgage for my first 10 years working) rates all at the same time. But the news tells me things are worse now. The world doesn't seem to bad to me in comparison. But hey opinions differ.
I am skeptical of everything, especially what comes from sources of power, such as the government or media. They have incentives to lie, manipulate and hide information. And yes, they can often also tell the truth, or part of it.
If you look at the statistics, that's a story. If you look at the opinions of residents in different states who give their opinion on the board, it may tell something different.
So, I can't say that I know the answer or the reality of what is happening, I just ask myself questions.