Distrust of News Media: Insights from Disadvantaged and Marginalized Communities
A report recently released by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism explores the issue of widespread distrust in news media across four countries: Brazil, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Drawing on insights gleaned from focus groups with 322 individuals from "disadvantaged or historically underserved communities," the report identifies several key factors contributing to this mistrust. Specifically, many participants viewed news media as being biased, sensationalized, inaccurate, and subject to covert influence.
Against this backdrop, the report's authors underscore the importance of newsroom leaders finding ways to better engage with communities that have historically been neglected or marginalized by traditional media outlets. However, given the multifaceted nature of the trust problem, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
A common refrain among participants was that news coverage frequently painted people like them in an unflattering light, with a disproportionate focus on negative stories and violence in their communities. Many felt that the media only paid attention to their communities when something bad happened.
Moreover, the report reveals that a significant number of participants expressed concerns that news coverage could influence how others perceived them and their community. They believed that news media could shape their own self-perception as well as that of their children. In this regard, many pointed out the racial bias in story selection and framing, which made them feel disrespected or unfairly targeted.
Despite perceiving journalists as disconnected and rarely having shared life experiences, the study's participants acknowledged the considerable constraints faced by journalists in covering news stories. While privileged audiences may worry about sensationalism, they rarely experience its consequences. However, disadvantaged communities do.
In conclusion, the report emphasizes that the issue of distrust in news media is complex and cannot be resolved through a single solution. Nevertheless, news organizations can take measures to restore their credibility in marginalized communities. For example, they can prioritize covering topics that matter to these communities, improve diversity among journalists and newsroom leaders, and address racial bias in story selection and framing. By doing so, newsrooms can foster trust with audiences who have been historically underserved or marginalized in their country's news coverage.
Alan Herrera is the Editorial Supervisor for the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA), where he oversees the organization’s media platform, foreignpress.org. He previously served as AFPC-USA’s General Secretary from 2019 to 2021 and as its Treasurer until early 2022.
Alan is an editor and reporter who has worked on interviews with such individuals as former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, the former President of the United Nations General Assembly; and Mariangela Zappia, the former Permanent Representative to Italy for the U.N. and current Italian Ambassador to the United States.
Alan has spent his career managing teams as well as commissioning, writing, and editing pieces on subjects like sustainable trade, financial markets, climate change, artificial intelligence, threats to the global information environment, and domestic and international politics. Alan began his career writing film criticism for fun and later worked as the Editor on the content team for Star Trek actor and activist George Takei, where he oversaw the writing team and championed progressive policy initatives, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ rights advocacy.