Global News Trust Hits Historic Low, Study Reveals
Global News Trust Hits Historic Low, Study Reveals
A new Reuters Institute report shows global trust in news at an all-time low. Discover why audiences are disengaging, the role of social media and AI, and what it means for the future of journalism.
Trust in news globally has plummeted to an all-time low, marking the lowest figures since the Reuters Institute began its annual research in 2015. The recent report, published on Tuesday, reveals that public trust worldwide stands at a mere 37%, a three-point drop from last year. In the UK, the situation is even more stark, with trust falling five points to 30%, a staggering 20 points lower than a decade ago.
The research indicates a significant shift in how people access news. More than half of respondents now turn to third-party platforms like social media and video networks for their news, although traditional news websites and TV news still maintain a strong presence, especially in the UK. The Reuters Institute attributes this decline to a "mix of anxiety, disengagement and cynicism from audiences," who express dissatisfaction with how publishers cover long-running issues such as immigration, inflation, and international conflicts.
Despite the growing reliance on social media for news, confidence in these platforms remains considerably lower than in news overall, at just 22%. Furthermore, only 10% of participants stated that their primary news needs were met by creators and influencers, suggesting these new figures complement rather than replace traditional media. The report also highlights a growing openness to new news sources and formats, alongside a fundamental belief in the potential of quality journalism.
The emergence of AI chatbots in news consumption is also a factor. While weekly use of AI chatbots has grown from 7% to 10% globally (and to 16% among people under 35), trust in answers from these AI tools is currently low, at 20%. Interestingly, support for impartial news remains high and largely unaffected by changes in consumption habits, only falling by 3% since 2020. In the US, news trust sits at 25%, dropping to just 15% among politically right-leaning Americans. Several major news outlets have seen significant declines, with trust in both CBS News and Fox News down 10 points since 2025 (sic, original text stated '2025' but likely meant '2020' or 'last year'), and CNN falling by six points.
