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trust

Trust Barometer rates media above government

In pictures: the main findings of the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer.
9.35am, 26 Jan 2012
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TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT increased over the last year in Ireland – although more people trust the media that trust the government.

The latest Edelman Trust Barometer shows that the general public’s overall trust in the government has risen 3 per cent to 23 per cent.

However, the report also found that seven out of ten people in Ireland don’t trust government leaders to tell them the truth.

Globally, scepticism increased as trust in governments fell 9 per cent to 43 per cent – the largest global fall for government trust in over a decade.

Trust in businesses in Ireland fell 3 per cent to 46 per cent last year (the global average is down 3 per cent to 53 per cent).

Despite a global trend of increased trust in the media, this fell by 3 per cent in Ireland last year to 35 per cent.

Overall, Ireland is no longer the least trusting country in the world; Germany, Spain, Japan and Russia all scored lower than Ireland in the latest trust barometer.

In pictures: the main findings of the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer:

Trust Barometer rates media above government
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  • Economy

    In Ireland, 12 per cent believe that government is effectively managing the economy. (Barry Batchelor/PA Wire)

  • Listening

    Just one in ten people in Ireland believe the government is listening to citizens' needs and feedback. (Jim Linwood on Flickr)

  • Training

    In Ireland, 14% believe the government is delivering national training programmes which will deliver jobs. (stevendepolo on Flickr)

  • Downgrades

    Countries downgraded by Standard & Poor's are more likely to think things are going in the wrong direction. In Ireland, 65 per cent think the country is on the wrong track. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

  • Business

    Across the EU, 27 per cent of respondents believed that businesses listen to customer needs and feedback, while only 20 per cent treated employees well. (Deborah Fitchett on Flickr)

  • Environment

    Almost three-quarters of Irish respondents said they believe companies should be involved in tackling social and environmental issues. (fox_kiyo on Flickr)

  • Authority figures

    Academics or experts are still seen as the most credible spokespeople BUT ordinary individuals or “a person like yourself” has risen from fifth place last year to second place this year. (Tulane Public Relations on Flickr)

  • Media

    Sixty-four per cent of people in Ireland need to hear something between three and five times before they will believe it. (scott1723 on Flickr)

  • Media

    Newspapers, TV, radio and online search engines are the most trusted sources of information in Ireland, while social networking sites and content-sharing sites are the least trusted. (PA Images)

  • Regulation

    Sixty-four per cent of people in Ireland believe the govt does not regulate business enough. One in four people trust government regulators. (Horia Varlan on Flickr)

  • Business

    Just 9 per cent of the general public in Ireland trust banks (up 3 per cent on last year), while only 3 per cent believe the govt should provide money for businesses experiencing a financial crisis. (Images_of_Money on Flickr)
  • In Ireland, 12 per cent believe that government is effectively managing the economy. (Barry Batchelor/PA Wire)
  • Just one in ten people in Ireland believe the government is listening to citizens' needs and feedback. (Jim Linwood on Flickr)
  • In Ireland, 14% believe the government is delivering national training programmes which will deliver jobs. (stevendepolo on Flickr)
  • Countries downgraded by Standard & Poor's are more likely to think things are going in the wrong direction. In Ireland, 65 per cent think the country is on the wrong track. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
  • Across the EU, 27 per cent of respondents believed that businesses listen to customer needs and feedback, while only 20 per cent treated employees well. (Deborah Fitchett on Flickr)
  • Almost three-quarters of Irish respondents said they believe companies should be involved in tackling social and environmental issues. (fox_kiyo on Flickr)
  • Academics or experts are still seen as the most credible spokespeople BUT ordinary individuals or “a person like yourself” has risen from fifth place last year to second place this year. (Tulane Public Relations on Flickr)
  • Sixty-four per cent of people in Ireland need to hear something between three and five times before they will believe it. (scott1723 on Flickr)
  • Newspapers, TV, radio and online search engines are the most trusted sources of information in Ireland, while social networking sites and content-sharing sites are the least trusted. (PA Images)
  • Sixty-four per cent of people in Ireland believe the govt does not regulate business enough. One in four people trust government regulators. (Horia Varlan on Flickr)
  • Just 9 per cent of the general public in Ireland trust banks (up 3 per cent on last year), while only 3 per cent believe the govt should provide money for businesses experiencing a financial crisis. (Images_of_Money on Flickr)

Here, Richard Edelman discusses the overall global trends of this year’s barometer:

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