PUBLIC trust in media organizations declined in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest poll conducted by Publicus Asia, Inc.
“Even the news outlets are not spared by the seemingly general loss of confidence this quarter,” Publicus Asia said in a statement on Monday regarding its survey. “Significant drop in high trust ratings versus the previous quarter is seen across all news providers.”
Commenting on the poll results, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Associate Professor Danilo A. Arao said the decline of public trust in media is due to disinformation drives by “hyperpartisan vloggers and influencers” targeting the credibility of news organizations.
“Another factor… could also be the irresponsibility of certain news media organizations that negate the good work that is done by the more responsible ones,” he told BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat.
He said some media organizations are notorious for unethical journalism practices, leading the audience to believe that other media outlets are also irresponsible in their news reporting.
The Publicus survey also showed that most Filipinos now get their news and information through the Internet (65%), television (65%), and Facebook (61%).
Social media surpassed television as a source of news information, with 52% of Filipinos opting to consume news via social media platforms.
Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) owned by televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy had a 19% public trust rating in the first quarter of the year, remarkably its lowest rating since 2022.
The pollster said the revocation of its legislative franchise could have influenced the perception of the news agency’s trustworthiness.
Mr. Arao also cited a news media organization that “has become both notorious and synonymous with red-tagging.” “[It] besmirches the profession as audiences may be led to believe that other news media organizations are prone to be irresponsible as well,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
