The Credibility of Journalism Today: A Balance Between Trust and Skepticism

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In recent years, public trust in the media and journalism has often been described as declining sharply. According to the latest report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ), based on a global sample of around 95,000 people across 47 countries, only about 40% of respondents say they “trust most news most of the time.”

At the same time, the percentage of people who say they trust the sources they personally use is slightly higher, around 46%.

This overall picture of moderate trust—far from an overwhelming majority—highlights a structural challenge for contemporary journalism: regaining the attention and confidence of a significant portion of the public.

The Situation in Europe

Not all countries face the same situation. There are notable geographic and cultural differences, especially in Europe. In some countries, such as Finland, trust is very high. According to the RISJ report, around 75% of adults say that “most news” is reliable.

In other countries, trust levels are much lower. For example, in politically polarized countries like Greece or Hungary, only about 20% of respondents say they trust “most news most of the time.”

As for Italy, one of the most recent data points shows that in 2023, the national news agency ANSA was the “most trusted news brand among Italians” for the sixth consecutive year: about 78% of Italians express trust in ANSA, up from 73% the previous year.

The Situation in the United States

According to a Gallup survey from September 2024, only 31% of Americans said they had “a fair amount” or “a great deal” of trust in the media (newspapers, TV, radio).

In the same survey:

• 36% said they had no trust at all in the media
• 33% said they had “not much” trust

An even more recent survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center in August 2025, found that roughly 9 out of 10 American adults say they encounter news they consider inaccurate at least “sometimes”; of these, 42% report that it happens “very often” or “often.”

In the same survey, about 51% of Americans say it is difficult to distinguish what is true and what is not when they consume news.

Why We (Don’t) Trust — And What Matters to the Public

According to the RISJ 2024 findings, when people choose which media to consider reliable, the factors most often cited as decisive are:

• High journalistic standards
• Transparency in how news is produced
• The impression that the media “represents people like me fairly”

On the other hand, factors such as sensationalism, excessive negativity, or perceived bias and political agendas tend to erode trust.

This implies that to regain credibility, many outlets—and journalism in general—should focus on transparency, rigor, fact-checking, and fair representation, rather than clickbait headlines or polarizing content.

From Trust to Distance: News Avoidance and “Information Fatigue”

Another trend accompanying declining trust is increasing news avoidance. Some people deliberately choose to avoid media and news updates because they find them too negative, stressful, or irrelevant to their daily lives. In some countries, the number of people who avoid news “at least occasionally” exceeds 70%.

This is critical: even if a newspaper or site is credible, its influence diminishes if the public chooses to ignore it. In an age of information overload—crises, conflicts, emergencies—“information fatigue” becomes a real problem for democracy.

Limits of the Data: Perception vs. Reality

It is important to remember that these statistics reflect subjective perceptions of trust, not objective measurements of journalistic quality or accuracy. Trust can be influenced by many factors—political, social, cultural—and does not always align with the actual rigor of journalism. In some cases, people may trust outlets with weak verification processes, while distrusting very rigorous outlets perceived as “biased.”

Some Considerations: The Role of Journalism Today

These data show that journalistic credibility is not a given; it must be built every day.

Media that prioritize transparency, source verification, pluralism, and rigor—despite today’s complex context—are more likely to enjoy long-term credibility.

Outlets need to engage with real people, represent diversity, and communicate clearly and responsibly, avoiding sensationalism and polarization.

Quality journalism can play a crucial role in democracy—but only if it manages to regain the trust of a significant portion of the public, including those who currently tend to distance themselves from the news.