More than half of Russians consider television the most trustworthy news source, the Interfax news agency reported Friday, citing the Levada Center, an independent pollster.
Complete trust in the information shown on television has increased to 59 percent of poll participants, up from 47 percent in 2012.
Only 4 percent of respondents said they are entirely distrustful of television news, a decrease from 8 percent of poll participants in 2012, the report said.
While 33 percent partially believe television news, 42 percent of Russians believe that television, radio and newspapers do not provide viewers with complete information, or distract them from important events.
Another 31 precent often think that they are being completely misled by the information provided.
Thirty-seven percent of Russians polled fully trust news reports on the Internet, Interfax cited the poll as showing.
Television is not only the most trusted but also the most prevalent media source as well — 88 percent of Russians polled use it as one of their primary sources of news information, the state-run Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) pollster reported in April this year.
The Internet was the second most popular source, providing news and information to 30 percent of Russians, FOM reported.
The Levada Center poll surveyed 1,600 people in 46 Russian regions from Oct. 2 to 5, with a 3.4 percent margin of error. The FOM survey was conducted among 1,500 people across Russia. Its margin of error was not specified.
Russian television is dominated by three main federal channels: Rossia, Channel One and NTV. All three are either controlled or owned by state companies.
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.
