Russians are losing faith in TV news

According to a survey carried out by the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM), Russians have begun to lose faith in TV news shows, with internet news platforms gaining significant ground.

The research reveals that, while television remains the main source of information for Russians, its popularity is declining: in 2015 it was the medium of choice for 62 per cent of Russians, while in 2017 just 52 per cent expressed their preference for TV news.

Meanwhile, the popularity of the internet is growing: this year 32 per cent of respondents said they use the internet to search for news, compared to 22 per cent in 2015.

Radio and newspapers fared worst in the survey, with only 3 — 4 per cent of all respondents getting their news from these sources.

As concerns grow regarding media freedom in Russia, do these results indicate that more Russians are attempting to find neutral news sources elsewhere?

Source: Afisha (in Russian)