Public Service Broadcasting Most Trusted in Germany

According to a representative survey conducted by Infratest dimap on behalf of WDR, 61% of respondents find the German media trustworthy.

This marks a 5-point increase compared to autumn 2023.

The survey also found that 83% of the public rate the quality of news as “good” or “very good.”

Public broadcasters enjoy the highest level of trust, with 67% of respondents describing them as “indispensable.” The print press also maintains a strong base of trust.

Although trust in private television rose by 4 points to 26%, it still lags far behind public service broadcasting.

Among 18–34-year-olds, social media is the most commonly used source for political information, yet trust in these platforms remains low. TikTok ranks the lowest in perceived reliability. Young people still consider public broadcasting and newspapers the most reliable sources of information.

The study also highlights the presence of a large group that regularly follows the media but remains skeptical, especially among voters of the AfD party.

An interesting and seemingly contradictory result is that 38% of Germans (down 2 points) believe the media is influenced by the state.

In 2023, this figure stood at 40%. Among those who hold this view, 56% believe that public broadcasters in particular are politically influenced, a 14-point increase from the previous year.

Source: Avrupadan