RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The credibility of journalists has declined due to covid reporting. This was said by 41 percent of respondents in a study by the Institute for Journalism at TU Dortmund University and the opinion research institute Forsa.
Dortmund journalism professor and head of the study, Michael Steinbrecher, spoke of an “alarming figure.” According to the survey, 43 percent also agreed with the blanket statement that journalism had gotten worse in recent years.
62 percent also agreed that journalism relies too much on exaggeration and scandalization. 28 percent agreed with the statement that journalism has lost touch with people.
Only eight percent of respondents felt that credibility had increased. First reported by Deutschlandfunk radio.
Steinbrecher said the study also shows that more than a third of people believe journalism is primarily dependent “on the influence of the powerful in politics and business.”
This could damage the acceptance of journalism in its democratic function, in the long run, he said. Despite the criticism, however, the vast majority of the population does not fundamentally question the importance of journalism, it said.
Eighty-seven percent of those surveyed considered it important for the functioning of a democracy.