European Union citizens and sources of information about health

European Union citizens and sources of information about health
EUROPEAN OPINION RESEARCH GROUP
The media do not enjoy a unanimous good reputation as 43.1% of people in the European
Union do not trust them while 39.3% do so. A closer look at national results shows that
Portugal (66.8%), Spain (61.1%), Greece (57.5%), Finland (52.5%), Belgium (45.7%), Ireland
(42.8%) and Italy (42.6%) have a positive opinion about this source of information while in
Sweden, the UK, Denmark, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands it is rather negative
(respectively 65.9%, 60.8%, 55.2%, 52.7%, 52%, 44.2% of “don’t trust”). A less clear-cut
70
base: 16067
Trust in the media
(% of EU population)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
P E GR FIN B IRL I A EU15 L
Trust 66.8 61.1 57.5 52.5 45.7 42.8 42.6 39.3 39.3 38.6 37.2 36.6 36.2 35.9 34.3 29.4 22.1 21.6
Don't trust 21.4 27.8 37.6 34.4 35.9 34 36.7 40.2 43.1 52.7 37.3 38.8 44.2 52 44.7 55.2 65.9 60.8
opinion is found in Germany and Austria.
D D
WEST TOTAL
NL F D OST DK S
UK
TOT.
There is no significant difference between men and women about their level of trust in
medical / health organisation, consumer organisations, school / university or environmental
organisations. However, women tend to trust more religious organisations and animal
welfare organisations than men do. The latter are more likely than women not to trust
environmental organisations, businesses and media. Results are summarised in the next
page table:
March 2003 10