Bangladesh, Sept. 28 -- The latest confrontation between President Donald Trump and some of America's largest news organizations is being presented as another battle over press freedom. But beneath the constitutional arguments and partisan rhetoric lies a broader problem that neither the White House nor the news industry can afford to ignore: Americans' confidence in traditional journalism has deteriorated dramatically.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 21 after the Trump administration barred their journalists from White House grounds. The organizations argue that the administration retaliated against them because of their coverage and therefore violated their First Amendment rights. The White House maintains th...