Trust in news has fallen to its lowest level in a decade - study
Kyiv • UNN
Trust in news globally has fallen to 37%, the lowest level since 2015. Audiences are shifting en masse to online video and social media.
The level of trust in news worldwide has reached a new low, according to a study by the Reuters Institute, which records the worst figures since observations began in 2015. This was reported by the BBC, according to UNN.
Details
The study published on Tuesday shows that the level of public trust in news globally stands at 37%, which is three percentage points lower than last year. In the United Kingdom, this figure decreased by five points to 30%, which is 20 points lower than ten years ago.
More than half of the respondents stated that they now receive news through third-party platforms, such as social networks and video services, although approximately the same number of people continue to use news websites and television news. In the UK, traditional sources remain more popular.
"Our data points to a combination of anxiety, detachment, and cynicism among the audience. Many do not like how the media covers long-standing topics, including immigration, inflation, and international conflicts,"
At the same time, the authors of the report note the audience's openness to new sources and information formats, as well as a belief in what quality journalism can offer society.
Despite the fact that more and more people consume news through social networks, trust in this format is significantly lower than the overall level of trust in news, standing at only 22%.
Only 10% of those surveyed reported that most of their information needs are met by content creators and influencers, suggesting that they complement traditional media rather than replace it.
Meanwhile, trust in responses from AI chatbots worldwide stands at 20%, although the share of people using them weekly has grown from 7% to 10% (and among those under 35 — to 16%).
Support for impartial news remains high and has been almost unaffected by changes in information consumption habits: since 2020, this figure has decreased by only 3%.
In the US, the level of trust in news is 25%, and among Americans with right-wing political views — only 15%.
Some major media outlets have lost a significant portion of audience trust: trust levels for CBS News and Fox News have dropped by 10 points compared to 2015, and for CNN — by six points.
Online news video has now become a common format worldwide: 77% of people watch news video content online every week, and in most countries covered by the study, this format is already more popular than television news. The only exceptions remain Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
"The popularity of content creators and online video does not mean that people no longer need news. It indicates that the audience wants to receive information in a more accessible, understandable, and relevant form for their lives,"
The study's findings are based on an online survey of nearly 100,000 people in 48 countries and regions.
Europe's trust in the US has collapsed to a historic low of 11% - poll13.06.26, 08:19 • 8416 views