Reuters Institute Report Shows Global Decline in Trust in Traditional Media

A Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism annual survey of nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries found that only 37 % of respondents consider most news reliable. Social‑media platforms and video services now dominate news consumption, with 77 % watching online news videos each week and 52 % of 18‑25‑year‑olds naming these platforms their main source. Traditional outlets such as print newspapers, TV news and radio are losing audience share, especially among younger users.

Trust in the most popular digital sources remains low—22 % for social‑media news and 20 % for AI‑generated content—while the public still seeks impartial reporting. The study suggests that media organisations must address editorial uniformity and diversify viewpoints to regain credibility, rather than solely blaming the rise of digital platforms.