Essential Report
Trust in Media
Q. How much trust do you have in what you read or hear in the following media?
Total a lot/some
15 Mar 10 |
Total a lot /some
25 Jul 11 |
Total a lot /some | A lot of trust | Some trust | Not much trust | No trust at all | Don’t know | Don’t use | |
News and opinion in daily newspapers | 62% | 53% | 46% | 3% | 43% | 32% | 13% | 3% | 5% |
News and opinion in local newspapers | – | 54% | 52% | 4% | 48% | 29% | 11% | 3% | 5% |
Commercial TV news and current affairs | 64% | 48% | 43% | 5% | 38% | 34% | 19% | 3% | 2% |
ABC TV news and current affairs | 70% | 71% | 72% | 23% | 49% | 14% | 6% | 3% | 5% |
Commercial radio news and current affairs | 54% | 46% | 45% | 4% | 41% | 30% | 15% | 3% | 6% |
ABC radio news and current affairs | 62% | 67% | 67% | 19% | 48% | 14% | 6% | 3% | 10% |
Commercial radio talkback programs | 38% | 33% | 33% | 5% | 28% | 32% | 22% | 3% | 10% |
ABC radio talkback programs | 45% | 47% | 47% | 7% | 40% | 28% | 9% | 3% | 13% |
News and opinion websites | 49% | 41% | 38% | 3% | 35% | 36% | 14% | 4% | 9% |
Internet blogs | 20% | 20% | 17% | 1% | 16% | 37% | 25% | 5% | 15% |
Since July, trust in media has dropped for daily newspapers (-7%) and commercial TV news and current affairs (-5%).
ABC TV news and current affairs has the highest number of people who have a lot/some trust (72%). This is followed by ABC radio news and current affairs (67%).
The lowest level of trust was recorded for internet blog (17%). This was followed by commercial radio talkback programs (33%).

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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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