Public trust in news organizations has declined to its lowest level since global monitoring began more than a decade ago, according to newly released research from the Reuters Institute. The findings underscore a growing crisis of confidence in journalism as audiences increasingly turn to social media platforms, video networks, content creators, and emerging artificial intelligence tools for information.
The annual study reveals that global trust in news has fallen to just 37%, marking a significant decline from previous years and representing the lowest level recorded since the Reuters Institute launched its Digital News Report in 2015. The trend is particularly pronounced in the United Kingdom, where trust has dropped by five percentage points over the past year to 30%, representing a dramatic decline of 20 percentage points compared to a decade ago.
The report paints a complex picture of an evolving media landscape in which audiences remain interested in consuming news but are becoming increasingly skeptical about the institutions responsible for delivering it. Researchers identified widespread concerns among consumers regarding the way major news organizations cover contentious and long-running issues such as immigration, inflation, economic pressures, and international conflicts.
Audience Frustration Driving Declining Trust in Traditional News Media
According to the study, public attitudes toward news are increasingly characterized by anxiety, disengagement, and cynicism. Many respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the tone, framing, and perceived biases present in media coverage, particularly when reporting on politically sensitive or socially divisive topics.
Researchers noted that audience fatigue associated with continuous coverage of global crises and economic uncertainty has contributed to declining confidence in news providers. At the same time, consumers are becoming more selective in how they access information, often seeking alternative perspectives through non-traditional channels.
Despite this growing skepticism, the report emphasizes that audiences have not abandoned news altogether. Instead, many individuals are exploring new formats and platforms that they perceive as more accessible, relevant, and aligned with their personal interests.
Social Media and Third-Party Platforms Continue to Expand Their Influence
One of the most significant findings of the report is the continued rise of third-party platforms as a primary source of news consumption. More than half of respondents across surveyed markets reported accessing news through social media platforms, video-sharing services, and other digital networks.
However, while social media has become an increasingly important gateway to information, public confidence in news encountered through these platforms remains considerably lower than trust in news overall. Just 22% of respondents indicated that they trust news delivered through social media channels.
This disparity highlights a growing paradox within the modern information ecosystem. While audiences are spending more time consuming content through social platforms, they remain wary of the reliability and accuracy of the information they encounter there.
In the United Kingdom, traditional news sources such as television broadcasts and dedicated news websites continue to maintain relatively strong audiences compared with many other international markets. Nevertheless, digital platforms are steadily gaining ground, particularly among younger demographics.
Online Video Emerges as a Dominant News Format
The report also highlights the rapid growth of online video as a preferred method of news consumption. Globally, 77% of respondents now consume online news video each week, reflecting a fundamental shift in audience behavior.
For the first time, online news video has surpassed traditional television news in nearly every market surveyed. Only a small number of countries, including Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, continue to report higher levels of broadcast television news consumption than online video.
Researchers suggest that the popularity of video-based news content reflects changing audience expectations. Consumers increasingly favor formats that present information in a concise, visually engaging, and easily digestible manner.
The growing influence of content creators and digital personalities has further accelerated this transition. However, the report found little evidence that influencers are replacing established news organizations entirely. Only 10% of respondents said that creators and influencers met most of their news needs, indicating that these figures are generally supplementing rather than replacing traditional journalism.
AI Chatbots Gain Users but Face Significant Trust Challenges
Artificial intelligence is emerging as another important factor reshaping the news landscape. The report found that weekly usage of AI chatbots for information and news-related purposes has increased from 7% to 10% globally. Among individuals under the age of 35, usage has climbed to 16%.
Despite rising adoption rates, trust in AI-generated information remains relatively low. Only 20% of respondents expressed confidence in answers provided by AI chatbots.
This suggests that while consumers are increasingly experimenting with AI-powered tools, significant concerns remain regarding accuracy, transparency, misinformation risks, and the reliability of machine-generated content.
Industry observers believe that AI will continue to play an expanding role in news discovery and information retrieval. However, widespread public acceptance is likely to depend on improved safeguards, stronger accountability measures, and greater transparency regarding how AI systems generate responses.
Political Polarization Continues to Impact Media Credibility
The study also highlights the impact of political divisions on public perceptions of news. In the United States, trust in news currently stands at just 25%, among the lowest levels recorded globally. Among politically conservative respondents, trust falls even further to 15%.
Several major American news organizations experienced notable declines in public confidence over the past year. Trust levels in major broadcasters and cable news networks recorded significant drops, reflecting the increasingly polarized media environment and growing skepticism toward traditional journalism.
Despite these challenges, support for impartial and objective reporting remains remarkably resilient. Researchers found only a modest decline in support for neutral journalism since 2020, indicating that audiences continue to value balanced and fact-based reporting even as confidence in media institutions weakens.
News Industry Faces Critical Challenge to Rebuild Public Confidence
The Reuters Institute findings underscore the urgent challenge facing news organizations worldwide. As trust reaches historic lows, publishers must navigate a rapidly evolving media environment characterized by technological disruption, shifting audience behaviors, growing political polarization, and intensifying competition from alternative information sources.
While social media, online video, and artificial intelligence continue to transform how people access news, the report suggests that audiences still recognize the importance of credible journalism. The challenge for media organizations will be rebuilding trust by delivering transparent, accurate, and relevant reporting that resonates with increasingly skeptical audiences.
As the information ecosystem becomes more fragmented, restoring public confidence may prove to be one of the defining challenges facing the global news industry in the years ahead.