Media Trust in Germany Remains Stable, but Concerns Over Verbal Aggression and Biased Reporting on the Rise
A recent study by the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf has found that the trust in established media in Germany remains relatively stable, with 47 percent of respondents expressing confidence in the media when it comes to important issues, while 20 percent do not trust them.
However, the study, which has been conducted annually since 2015, has also revealed a significant increase in the perception of verbal aggression in public debates. A majority of the 1,203 respondents, aged 18 and above, who were interviewed by phone in November and December 2024, believe that people in public discussions often stick to their opinions and do not allow others to express theirs (69 percent). Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of the respondents (68 percent) think that others are not allowed to have a say in the discussion.
The study also found a growing trend of media skepticism, with one in five respondents agreeing that the population is systematically lied to by the media.
When it comes to the trust in individual media genres, the public broadcasting service remains the most trusted, with 61 percent of respondents expressing confidence, although this is the lowest level of trust since the study began. Local newspapers and national dailies follow, with 56 and 55 percent of respondents, respectively, expressing trust.
The study’s findings are particularly concerning when it comes to the reporting on the conflict between Israel and Gaza, with only 27 percent of respondents expressing trust in the media’s coverage of the issue.
The study, which is now financially supported by the Federal Centre for Political Education since 2022, has been conducted annually since 2015 by the Institute of Journalism at the Johannes Gutenberg University and the Institute of Social Sciences at the Heinrich Heine University.