While newspapers, radio, and television struggle to maintain their influence in a digital ecosystem saturated with information and misinformation, one question remains: is traditional media still trustworthy? In Should We Still Trust Traditional Media?, Léwis Verdun offers a rigorous analysis of this critical issue at the heart of modern democracies.

Drawing on recent data from Gallup, Pew Research, the Eurobarometer, the 2025 Digital News Report, and the La Croix Media Barometer, this concise work provides an unflinching diagnosis—alongside practical strategies to rethink the role of information in the digital age.

A Worldwide Trust Gap

Trust in media varies significantly across regions. In Europe, only 40% of people say they trust traditional news outlets. In the United States, that figure plummets to 28%, one of the lowest levels ever recorded by Gallup.

By contrast, countries like Nigeria (68%) and Kenya (65%) report much higher levels of trust. This paradox raises a crucial question: why do some societies maintain faith in their media while others turn away?

The author argues that this divide is not only a matter of media quality, but also reflects political polarization, educational gaps in media literacy, and the dominance of social networks as primary news sources.

What Drives the Decline in Trust

The book identifies several key factors behind this growing distrust:

  • Political polarization and accusations of media bias

  • A flood of online misinformation diluting factual reporting

  • The rise of influencers perceived as more "authentic" than journalists

  • Opaque use of artificial intelligence to automate content creation

  • Economic pressures favoring speed and sensationalism over accuracy

Another striking insight: more than 60% of people under 30 get their news primarily from social media. The traditional bond between journalists and citizens has been replaced by algorithmic filters and filter bubbles.

Economic and Democratic Consequences

This erosion of trust weakens journalism's role as a democratic watchdog. Discredited newsrooms lose their authority to question power, investigate, and spark informed debate.

Economically, this disaffection translates into declining subscriptions, advertising migration to platforms, and worsening job insecurity for reporters.

But the consequences go beyond economics. They erode civic cohesion. Without a shared foundation of facts, democratic conversation breaks down—and conspiracy theories flourish.

Interestingly, local news outlets—closer to the ground and less politicized—enjoy higher trust levels, sometimes up to 60% in countries like Germany, Denmark, and Canada.

Rebuilding the Trust Pact

Despite the sobering assessment, the book is far from pessimistic. It offers actionable solutions to restore a meaningful relationship between media and audiences:

  • Support local and investigative journalism that reflects real-life concerns

  • Invest in fact-checking and transparent editorial practices

  • Strengthen media literacy education from an early age

  • Ensure transparency in AI-generated content

  • Create genuine interactive spaces between newsrooms and readers

The author also calls for co-regulation involving journalists, tech platforms, academics, and citizens to establish safeguards for information without resorting to censorship.

Trust as a Democratic Contract

Should We Still Trust Traditional Media? argues that trust is not a relic of the past—it’s a democratic contract that must be reimagined for the digital age. This involves not only transparency and independence, but also the capacity to adapt to new media habits.

Responsibility is shared: journalists, educators, tech developers, and readers all play a role in rebuilding a healthy information ecosystem.

This compact but impactful book offers a nuanced, evidence-based roadmap to understanding the forces reshaping public trust in journalism. It encourages readers to engage critically and constructively with the media of tomorrow.

Download the book now and reclaim your relationship with the news.