Broadcast media remain the most trusted media in Europe, according to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The organstation’s Trust in Media 2019 report found that 85 per cent of European countries trust radio and 75 per cent trust TV.
Radio is the most reliable medium for EU citizens, trusted by 59 per cent of the population. Meanwhile around half of all EU citizens reportedly trust TV.
The internet is trusted by only 32 per cent of citizens and social media by 19 per cent. This has fallen from 36 per cent and 21 per cent respectively in 2014.
The report also showed that for the first time, more people trust the written press than distrust it.
Public service media (PSM) are among the top five most trusted news brands in more than 80 per cent of North and Central European markets. In more than 60 per cent of those markets, PSM is the number one brand for trusted news.
EBU Media Intelligence Service manager David Fernandez Quijada said: “The more national PSM are perceived to be free from political pressure, the higher the level of press freedom in a country.
“This World Press Freedom Day, we should champion the valuable role of our public service Members in upholding democratic values and promoting a free and independent media landscape.”
The full report can be downloaded here.
