Public trust in the news

Working paper

The issue of trust in our institutions has never been higher in the public agenda. In this path-breaking study, the question of how far the news media are trusted has been posed in a unique way—to ordinary people in focus groups. Their response is that they find the news often incomprehensible and demeaning of their experience. The study carries large implications for journalists and proposes ways in which this deficit of understanding and acceptance of journalism by much of its audience may be addressed.

Authors: Coleman, S; Anthony, S; Morrison, D

• Alternative title: A constructivist study of the social life of the news
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford
• Series: RISJ Challenges
• Publication date: 2009-01-01
• Edition: Publisher's version
• ISBN: 9780955888953
• Language: English
• Keywords: news media; audiences; News consumption; news scepticism; trust in media; focus groups; political trust
• Subjects: Media and Public Policy; News media,journalism,publishing; Journalism (political science)