You know the saying: “Don’t shoot the messenger”. This rings particularly true while leafing through the 2026 Digital News Report. Published on June 16, this annual survey (running since 2012) by the Reuters Institute is considered the world’s most comprehensive ongoing study of global news consumption, journalism, and technological transformation.
Reviewing the data, I see a report that blends intensified sentiments, ongoing trends, and new ways of communicating. For years, Reuters has shown that news consumption is rapidly evolving, creating challenges for traditional publishers and society as a whole.
A fact that makes me concerned is that the people increasingly blame the media for misleading them. Unfortunately, the “dishonest media” has become a common trope.
A Crisis of Trust and Apathy
To uncover where this sentiment comes from, let’s look at the facts. One key finding of the 2026 Digital News Report is particularly important: trust in news is waning. Amid global crises, perceived social instability, and an online information flood, people are increasingly reporting that they either do not trust the news or avoid it altogether.
The data shows that global trust in news has fallen to an all-time low, with just 37% of respondents trusting the media. This, in turn, triggers a wave of apathy. Since 2021, overall interest in news has plummeted by 13% (from 59% to just under 46%).
This is indeed a matter of great concern. From my perspective, democracy cannot function without shared, agreed-upon facts. Trusted sources of information are paramount – they are the bedrock of social cohesion.
When citizens no longer put their trust in established ways of staying informed, or in the information itself, public discourse can collapse. We see this all over the world through the recent rise of populist political parties. Hyper-polarized media cynicism has seemingly replaced healthy skepticism, leaving citizens vulnerable to populist propaganda and disinformation.
One key finding of the 2026 Digital News Report is particularly important: trust in news is waning. Amid global crises, perceived social instability, and an online information flood, people are increasingly reporting that they either do not trust the news or avoid it altogether.
The Shift to Screens
The Association of Austrian Newspaper Publishers (VÖZ) recently pointed out a similar reality. For this year’s World Press Freedom Day in May, their core message was: “When independent media disappear, democracy dies quietly, because it loses its most important asset: well-informed citizens”.
Herein lies a profound truth. Media outlets are not solely accountable for the quality of news. Users have their own agency by ensuring that the information they consume is trustworthy. For the sake of democracy, we must therefore find ways to foster informed citizens and rebuild trust in news.
Fortunately, there is an upside: even though people are wary of the news, they still possess a deeply rooted interest in the world around them. Users simply quit reading newspapers or watching traditional TV – they are going online.
For the first time in the history of the Digital News Report, social media and video networks have become the primary source of news this year, with 54% of global respondents now accessing news this way. In fact, these platforms have officially bypassed publishers’ own websites and apps.
The Rise of Content Creator
This shift is known as the “platformization of news”. It is driven by a high demand for visual content and a steady transition away from text-based journalism. Every single week, 77% of global respondents consume online news videos. In 45 out of the 48 markets surveyed by Reuters, online video has overtaken traditional broadcast television. Only in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands does TV remain in the lead or on par with online video.
Concurrently, a large portion of news is being produced by new types of media figures. According to the report, 27% of global respondents get their news from specific, news-focused content creators, while nearly half (46%) get news from influencers of some kind.
Surprisingly, audiences openly acknowledge that online news creators are generally less impartial and less trustworthy than institutional newsrooms. Nevertheless, they watch them anyway. A similar sentiment applies to social media and AI. Even though people have a fraught relationship with the technology, they still use it on a daily basis.
I firmly believe that underneath a mountain of superficial noise, there is quality information that can help us understand this fast-changing world. We just need to locate these sources and hold them accountable to high standards of integrity.
The Need for Media Literacy
It seems that people are more or less aware of the pitfalls of online information. However, in modern communication, users need more than just common sense. When news is consumed primarily within an algorithmic social media feed, it is stripped of its original context and institutional weight. For example, a deeply researched, verified report from an investigative journalist can look identical to a biased blog post or an unverified rumor.
Hence, to trust the news again, people must learn how to evaluate it. This is a future skill that requires media literacy. It is imperative to recognize that entertainment value does not equal journalistic integrity.
Things can rarely be painted in black and white. The world is a complex, intertwined system, as are the media and news reporting. Safeguarding democracy therefore requires citizens to look beyond their own echo chambers and actively scrutinize the sources and editorial standards behind the content they consume.
The News is Out There
The 2026 Digital News Report does offer a glimmer of hope. Global audiences still prefer impartial, non-partisan reporting. This means that the objective truth remains relevant to people. But at the same time, our means to find it have become significantly more complicated.
Changing technology drives this trend. With constantly emerging ways to get the latest updates, people feel overwhelmed – and there is no turning back. Technology will continue to evolve, and the ways we consume information will never stop changing.
Therefore, we cannot protect our democracy by wishing for a return to the past. Instead, we must proactively equip citizens with the critical thinking, healthy skepticism, and analytical tools necessary to navigate today’s media landscape.
I firmly believe that underneath a mountain of superficial noise, there is quality information that can help us understand this fast-changing world. We just need to locate these sources and hold them accountable to high standards of integrity. The final takeaway thus reads: don’t shoot the messenger by blaming the media – educate the citizens and empower the users!
Thank you for reading. This is a “POV” exploring thoughts, stories and current debates to provide a reflected view and assessment.