Trust in news media across Western democracies has fallen to its lowest level on record, according to a major new survey published this morning. The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025 reveals that only 32% of respondents in 46 countries now say they trust most news most of the time, a decline of 10 percentage points since 2020 and the sharpest drop in the survey’s 14-year history.
The findings represent a systemic challenge to democratic governance. Informed public debate, accountability journalism, and the shared factual basis required for electoral legitimacy all depend on media credibility. The erosion of that credibility, particularly among younger demographics, raises urgent questions about the resilience of democratic institutions.
In the United Kingdom, trust in news now stands at 29%, down from 38% in 2020. The United States, already experiencing acute political polarisation, recorded just 26% trust, while France fell to 28%. The data show a widening gap between older and younger audiences: only 19% of 18-24 year olds trust news, compared to 45% of those aged 55 and over.
Researchers attribute the collapse to three structural factors: first, the proliferation of political disinformation and partisan news outlets; second, the financial pressures that have forced many legacy news organisations to reduce investigative reporting; and third, the algorithmic amplification of emotive and polarising content on social media platforms.
“We are witnessing a fundamental breakdown in the social contract between media and audiences,” said Dr. Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, director of the Reuters Institute. “When trust falls below 30%, as it now has in several major democracies, the ability of news to serve its democratic functions is severely compromised.”
The survey also identifies a significant shift in news consumption habits. For the first time, social media has overtaken television as the primary news source for the global sample. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are now the dominant entry points for news among under-35s, with algorithms prioritising high-engagement content over editorial standards.
Political leaders have been quick to respond. In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the findings “a wake-up call for democracy” and announced a new digital accountability framework to require platforms to label AI-generated content and algorithmic recommendations. In London, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said the government would launch a parliamentary inquiry into media sustainability and public trust.
Critics, however, argue that state interventions risk further politicising news. “The cure must not be worse than the disease,” said Sir Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs. “Government regulation of news content in fragile trust environments can easily slide into censorship.”
The crisis is compounded by economic headwinds. Advertising revenue continues to flow to tech giants, while print circulation and linear television audiences decline. More than 200 local news titles closed in the UK alone over the past five years, creating news deserts where mis- and disinformation thrive.
Some news organisations are responding with transparency initiatives. The Guardian, the BBC, and Le Monde have introduced “trust signals” such as detailed sourcing notes, corrections policies, and journalist bios. Early data from pilot schemes suggest modest improvements in audience perception, but experts caution that structural solutions are needed.
“The scale of the problem requires coordinated action across publishers, platforms, educators, and governments,” said Professor Nathalie Sonnac of Sciences Po, a co-author of the report. “If we do not rebuild trust, we risk a future in which facts are optional and democracy is hollowed out.”
The report coincides with a period of heightened geopolitical tension. Disinformation campaigns by state actors, particularly Russia and China, have exploited low trust environments to amplify divisions in Western societies. The incoming US presidential election in November is seen as a critical test of media credibility and democratic resilience.
As newsrooms grapple with declining audiences and revenues, and as platforms face scrutiny over their role in information ecosystems, the question is whether the relationship between journalism and the public can be repaired before the damage becomes irreversible.
