Television remains the biggest news source for Russians but has become less trusted over the past decade, according to a new poll published by the independent Levada Center.
Seventy-three percent of respondents told Levada that they get their news from television, down from 85 percent this spring. Online news outlets were the main news source for 37 percent of respondents, up from 27 percent in March.
“Social networks and the internet continue to strengthen their position among information channels that the population uses to receive news,” Levada wrote on Thursday.
Almost half of the respondents told the pollster that they trust television news, versus almost a quarter who said they find online publications trustworthy.
Since 2009, the pollster said trust in television news dropped from 79 percent to 49 percent. Conversely, online publications gained in trustworthiness from 7 percent in 2009 to 24 percent in 2018.
Observers say that younger populations view online outlets as being more trustworthy, while the older working-age population has recently found itself at odds with state television’s efforts to drum up support for unpopular government moves to raise the retirement age.
“The way the pension reform was characterized on the screen came into conflict with their personal interpretation,” Alexei Makarkin, the deputy head of the Moscow-based Center for Political Technologies think tank, told the Vedomosti business daily.
Levada’s survey was conducted among 1,600 respondents in 52 Russian regions between Aug. 23 and Aug. 30.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
