A dedicated Eurobarometer survey published today takes an in-depth look at media habits, trust in different media sources, and attitudes towards the threat of disinformation.

With 75 percent, television dominates as the primary news source, particularly for citizens over 55 years old. Next and quite distant are online news platforms (43 percent), radio (39 percent), and social media platforms and blogs (26 percent). The written press comes in fifth place, with one out of five respondents (21 percent) citing newspapers and magazines as their primary news source. Younger respondents, on the other hand, are much more likely to use social media platforms and blogs to access news (46 percent of 15-24 year-olds vs. 15 percent of 55+-year-olds).

Although traditional news sources – particularly television – are essential, 88 percent of respondents get at least some news online via their smartphone, computer, or laptop. Paying for online news content is still somewhat the exception, as 70 percent of those who access information online would use only free news content or news services online.

Citizens trust traditional broadcast and print media, including their online presence, more than online news platforms and social media channels. Whether via their ‘native channel’ or online presence, 49 percent of respondents expect public TV and radio stations to give them truthful news, followed by the written press, selected by 39 percent. On the other hand, private TV and radio stations are cited by 27 percent as trusted media sources. 

In Poland, these proportions have been reversed. Public media are trusted by only 23 percent, while private media are trusted by as much as 43 percent. We also have a higher trust in online news platforms than the European average, at 57 percent (43 percent in the EU).

(WBJ)