Public trust in the media and freedom of the press are key areas of concern for news outlets worldwide. More than half (53%) of journalists feel the public lost trust in the media over the last year.*
While this trend has steadily improved over the last five years and shifted down from 59% in Cision’s 2020 survey, it remains a pressing issue for media who are dealing with increased skepticism fueled by rhetoric from government leaders, interest groups and competing news sources, among others.
Looking specifically at the U.S., where contentious relationships between the White House and certain media outlets were aired publicly over the last four years, there are signs of optimism. More than a third of journalists (36%) feel the new Presidential administration will help the public gain trust in the media going forward.