Czech media trust falls to record low, study finds

The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report shows global confidence in news media at a historic low of 37 percent, while the Czech Republic records an even lower 31 percent. Over the eleven‑year series, Czech trust has dropped eight percentage points, despite the country being rated among the world’s highest in press‑freedom indices.

Experts link the decline to the rise of populist and anti‑system parties that challenge mainstream outlets, the growing influence of digital platforms as primary news sources, and comparatively weaker editorial autonomy in Central and Eastern Europe. The analysis also notes that Czech audiences are still able to distinguish reliable outlets, but overall skepticism toward the media ecosystem is deepening.