News trust in Philippines falls – Reuters study

News trust in the Philippines has fallen by one percent since 2023, the 2024 edition of the Reuters Digital News Report said.

MANILA, Philippines—News trust in the Philippines has fallen by one percent since 2023, the 2024 edition of the Reuters Digital News Report said.

According to the study released on Monday, news trust in the country in 2024 was marked at 37 percent, from the previous 38 percent in 2023.

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In the report, Reuters observed that media brands that have long established themselves have high levels of trust, in contrast to independent outlets that were distrusted by supporters of some politicians.

“Overall trust in the news has remained stable since 2022. Many of the longest-established media brands, such as GMA Network and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, have relatively high levels of trust, but some independent outlets respected for their reporting on those in positions of power are often actively distrusted by supporters of the politicians in question and subject to coordinated harassment,” it said.

Reuters also said that 72 percent of respondents in its study trusted GMA Network, followed by TV5 at 67 percent and the Philippine Daily Inquirer at 66 percent.

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Meanwhile, the study said that online news, including social media, was the top source of news for Filipinos at 82 percent, followed by social media at 63 percent, television at 46 percent, and print at 13 percent.

The top social media network in the Philippines for news remains Facebook, followed by YouTube at second, and Facebook Messenger at third, while 42 percent said that they share news through social, messaging, or email, it added.