Crisis of trust in journalism: Study highlights dissatisfaction with democracy

Crisis of trust in journalism: Study highlights dissatisfaction with democracy

On June 6, 2025, the team from the Institute for Journalism at the Technical University of Dortmund was awarded the prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Award in St. Louis (USA). This prize is awarded annually by the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) for the best scientific paper on the topics of democracy and public opinion. The award-winning paper deals with the connection between media skepticism and dissatisfaction with democracy in Germany and is described as well-thought-out and empirically based.

The research group, consisting of Dr. Thomas Roessing, Kristina Beckmann, Leonie Krzistetzko, Prof. Michael Steinbrecher and Prof. Günther Rager, found in their long-term study “Journalism and Democracy” that there is a significant connection between declining trust in journalism and general dissatisfaction with democracy. This leads to the conclusion that the prosperity of the respondents is closely linked to their dissatisfaction with both areas.

Crisis of trust in journalism

The current results of the study are not only of interest to scientists, but are also highly relevant politically. A detailed investigation shows that part of the population systematically distrusts journalists. Surveys have shown that around 11% of respondents do not trust the media and believe they are being deliberately deceived. In addition, 15% believe that the media and politics work together to manipulate public opinion. This skepticism has grown significantly since the term “lying press” became widespread in 2014, particularly at Pegida and AfD demonstrations.

In fact, attacks on media workers in Germany have increased dramatically between 2015 and 2022, with 287 physical attacks recorded. The spread of media cynicism is clearly linked to gaps in representation and a lack of media knowledge. A lack of understanding of how journalism works reinforces this mistrust and has led to a divided image of journalism in East and West Germany.

Strengthening media trust

The study suggests that greater transparency in journalistic work and targeted promotion of media literacy among the population could help to strengthen trust. Media literacy is considered essential for democratic participation and includes cognitive, affective and practical dimensions. Cognitive skills refer to knowledge of media systems, while affective skills involve appreciation of journalism.

Professional journalism is seen as essential for the functioning of a democracy. Nevertheless, journalism is in the midst of a crisis of trust, which is also fueled by advancing digitalization and the use of AI. The first applications of AI in journalism date back about ten years ago, and today journalists are faced with the challenge of dealing with the authenticity of content and maintaining audience trust.

Finally, it should be noted that the “Journalism and Democracy” study is supported by the NRZ Press House Foundation and surveys politicians, journalists and the population every year in order to comprehensively analyze expectations of journalism and trust in this institution. These insights are of great importance for both the media landscape and political structures.

For more information about how journalism is perceived today and what challenges it has to overcome, you can find detailed analyzes in the respective studies. This is also shown by an academic study Federal Agency for Civic Education the complexity of the relationship between journalism and society.

In addition, the comprehensive studies on media literacy and the expectations of journalism in the Journalism study by the TU Dortmund referred to, which offer exciting insights into the different perspectives.