Broken trust: time to abandon a manipulated metric

It is time to abandon the trust metric as it is applied to journalism. It is no longer fit for purpose in the context of targeted attacks on journalists and news outlets facilitated by the Big Tech actors who have funded and promoted projects focused on journalism’s problem with trust.
New research from the International Center for Journalists and the International Fund for Public Interest Media turns the industry's understanding about trust in journalism on its head.
Uncritical, decontextualised research on trust erosion delivers easily manipulated data and poses significant risks to journalists. Similarly media development projects focused on trust in journalism in isolation from consideration of information integrity and threats to press freedom have skewed audience development work.
This panel will launch the results of nationally representative surveys conducted in five countries, which connects the demonisation of independent journalism by political actors and digital disinformation with declining trust. It also points to startling levels of tolerance for political attacks on the press and disrespect for press freedom.
We will also consider ways of reconceptualising trust in journalism.
Organised in association with International Center for Journalists.

• #journalism #media studies #trust #disinformation #press freedom #political attacks #information integrity #audience development