The media appetite of the French is regaining a semblance of vigor, thanks to an unprecedented health crisis.
This is the first lesson from the
annual barometer produced by Kantar for the daily
La Croix
, published on January 27.
French interest in current affairs has indeed jumped by 8 points, to 67%, after falling last year at a similar time to a historically low level.
The second important element of this survey concerns the confidence of the French in journalists.
The credibility of the media is indeed recovering slightly
for the second year in a row, after having hit an absolute low in the midst of the “yellow vests” crisis, even if it remains at very low levels.
Radio still comes out on top: 52% of French people, 2 points more than last year, believe that it broadcasts truthful news, ahead of newspapers (+2 points to 48%) and television ( +2 points at 42%).
Finally, the Internet's credibility (measured since 2005) has improved more clearly but still remains very low (+5 points to 28%).
However, when asked about the treatment of the Covid-19 epidemic in the media, the French are extremely divided.
Among the main complaints: having given too much importance to non-specialists (for 73% of respondents) and dramatized the events (66%).
In addition, 58% of French people believe that the media have relayed false news.
In this gloomy context, nine out of ten French people still believe they were well informed about barrier gestures and wearing a mask, and more than three out of four concerning the rules of confinement and deconfinement.
However, we note that a majority of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the coverage of very divisive subjects such as the origin of the virus or hydroxychloroquine.
Survey conducted from January 7 to 11, 2021.