Russians’ Trust in State TV Falls to Just Over 50 Percent, Levada Center Poll Finds

Paul Goble

            Staunton, February 27 – More than almost any other contemporary world leader, Vladimir Putin has relied on his control of state television to generate and maintain support for himself and his policies, but a new Levada Center poll finds that the share of Russians who trust that source has fallen from 79 percent in 2009 to 52 percent now. 

            While still a majority and relatively stable over the last two years after dramatic declines earlier, the trust of Russians in various media has shifted dramatically away from television. In 2009, only seven percent of Russians trusted the Internet, now, 24 percent do; and four percent now trust telegram channels which didn’t exist a decade ago.

            These figures track with the share of Russians who say they rely on this or that kind of outlet for news about the country and the world, with people turning away from sources they consider less trustworthy and turning toward those they consider more so (levada.ru/2020/02/27/istochniki-novostej-i-doverie-smi/).

            One interesting detail: 18 percent of Russians say they still listen to friends and acquaintances for reports about developments; but now, in contrast to the past, far fewer trust this traditional source of information.  As recently as March 2018, 19 percent said they trusted this source; now, only eight percent do. 

            That makes the decline of trust in in state television and the increase in trust in the Internet and social media even more important in the formation of Russians’ views than would otherwise be the case.