It is very difficult to discuss the public’s trust in the media without delving into a political discussion. This is now more evident than ever, as the coronavirus created the opportunity for an increased number of misinformation campaigns designed to confuse and create social division. For the sake of everyone, we’ll save the political discussion around media trust and the coronavirus for another day.
However, we do think discussions about media trust are important, not only for the general American or global citizen, but for companies and organizations considering media relations.
So, below please find a roundup of articles on media trust and the coronavirus that we’re reading or that were shared with us by those in our network, as well as a few excerpts from each. Enjoy, and most important, form your own decisions.
How Covid-19 is affecting trust in journalism and the media
“According to our 2020 global data, journalists believe that eliminating themselves from the ‘fake news’ stigma means ensuring content is 100% accurate. Much like the views expressed in last year’s report, providing correct content is seen as more important than revenue, exclusivity, or being the first to publish the story.”
“Cision’s 2020 ‘State of the Media’ report confirms that journalism continues to be a tumultuous field, heightened by the pandemic. It highlights that the trust the media has been working to regain with the public is now having an impact in where people go for their virus updates.”
83% Of Americans Trust Journalists For Coronavirus Info. 50% Trust Social Media
“COVID-19 seems to have boosted people’s faith in media, according to a recent survey of 1,000 people.”
“Some degree of restored faith in the media would be a bit of a miracle, given the tendency today to reject anything that does not align with our particular worldview.”
How to restore trust in media: Fewer biases and conflicts of interest, a new study shows
“The single most significant measure that would restore trust in news brands was journalists declaring any conflicts of interest or biases with regards to particular stories. These measures were supported most by both trusters and mistrusters of news.”
Experts say trust in news brands is up, but must be retained as coronavirus crisis continues
“If we look at digital news across all publications, the numbers are up by 3 million compared to a year ago. We are seeing a huge flock back to journalism at these quite challenging times.”
Public Service Media Are Trusted Source of Information on COVID-10 CRISIS
Liz Corbin is the EBU’s Deputy Media Director and Head of News: “In times of national or international crisis, millions of people turn to public service television, radio and online. When it comes to public health, the public wants a source of reliable and trustworthy information. And the coronavirus epidemic shows that journalists from these organizations are going further than ever to get the best news as quickly as possible.”
