A Closer Look at Public (Dis)trust and Freedom of the Press

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.

Percentage of journalists who believe the public lost trust in the media over the last year.

How do you think having a new Presidential administration in 2021 will impact trust in the media going forward? (U.S. only)

When it comes to freedom of the press – a hard-fought right for many countries – 40% of journalists stated that they see a deterioration in their country of origin or in the country on which they report; 46% predict that freedom of the press will continue to deteriorate over the next three years, while 24% expect the situation to improve.*

Do you currently see a deterioration of freedom of press in either your country of origin or in the country on which you report?

Do you believe freedom of the press will improve, deteriorate or stay the same in the next three years?