The Digital News Review study surveyed 70,000 people in 38 countries and found that one in three respondents actively avoided the news, with almost 50 percent claiming that it was too depressing.
Digital News Report 2017 out today – key data on fake news, changing business models and role of platforms https://t.co/ugeXo6KZcx #DNR17
— Reuters Institute (@risj_oxford) June 22, 2017
In the UK, overall trust in news outlets had dropped by 7 percent post Brexit.
'Increasingly polarised media landscape in the UK' says @nicnewman at the #DNR17 launch in Vienna. Chart below compares with Spain and USA. pic.twitter.com/f0aeLwttyE
— Reuters Institute (@risj_oxford) June 22, 2017
The reason why many people stopped trusting the media was because both sides of the referendum debate believed that they were fed fake news.
Globally, only 24 percent of people think social media does a good job in separating fact from fiction and that figure dropped to 18 percent in the UK. Compared to a global figure of 40 percent who thought news media did a good job in that regard, the UK scored 41 percent.
Only people in Greece reported more confidence in social media, with 28 percent saying it did a good job compared with 19 percent for news organizations.
Two significant findings that challenge accepted wisdom on fake news and filter bubbles in Digital News Report 2017 #DNR17 #GENSummit pic.twitter.com/xu0uh0391G
— Adam Thomas (@datatheism) June 22, 2017
According to one of the lead authors of the report, Nic Newman, the public's concerns about fake news should encourage the media to write distinctive, high-quality journalism.
However, one positive finding came from the fact that under-35s were prepared to pay for news, this number has increased from 9 percent to 16 percent since Donald Trump became US president.
Key drivers of "Trump Bump" are Young People who are now paying for news/subscriptions. Whoever said young people can't pay for news?#DNR17
— Njoki Chege (@njokichege) June 22, 2017
Mr. Newman said media organizations should be more optimistic about this year's review, saying that it is "myth" to say that young people will not pay for news. The new business models and memberships schemes have helped increased readership among the younger generation.
"The worries that people have about the quality of their news means there is an opportunity to charge, or to cut through with more distinctive journalism," Mr. Newman said.
"People are beginning to realize if you don't pay for it then you are the product," he added.
