A member of the HRC explained the decrease of trust in media – RIA Novosti

18:0316.10.2016

(updated: 18:09 16.10.2016)

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MOSCOW, 16 Oct – RIA Novosti. A Russian media has lost the role of the “fourth power”, this can explain the decrease in trust of Russians to the media which was recorded by the Fund “Public opinion”; citizens now expect from the media a greater determination and efficiency in defending their interests and solving urgent problems, says a member of the presidential Council on human rights (HRC) Alexander Brod.

As shown by an opinion poll of the Fund “Public opinion” (FOM) conducted on October 8-9, among 1,500 respondents in 53 regions of Russia, the level of distrust of the media has increased compared to last year. So, from August 2015 the number of Russians do not trust the media, increased from 41% to 51%, and the share of the trust decreased from 47% to 40%. Almost half of our citizens (46%) believe the coverage of the situation in the Russian economy biased, one-third of respondents (32%) hold the opposite point of view, and one in five (21%) found it difficult to answer.

Ford noted that the Russians feel financial problems on a personal budget, their family budget. Falling living standards, increasing stratification of society, and in this regard, as shown by data from other polls, falling confidence and to some state authorities, he said.

“of Course, the media, which we call the fourth estate, also in the field of view of the Russians, and, of course, the Russians lay including the blame on them,” Wade said to RIA Novosti, commenting on the survey data.

In his opinion, for the media now is really a distinctive number of problems. “They do something to embellish the reality, exposed to the official propaganda; someone is not satisfied with the rabid anti-Western rhetoric, at the same time, Russians believe that the media is not enough to criticize the problems within the country,” explained the defender.

He believes that the Russians would like to see in the media, the more “determination and effectiveness of anti-corruption investigations, criticism of senior officials, corporations, and critics of law enforcement bodies”.

“On the media remain with the hope that they, as a fourth power, will more effectively deal with difficulties faced by the Russians. The drop in the level of confidence in the media suggests that the media do not justify those expectations,” said Ford.

According to human rights activist, in the period of perestroika, in the beginning of reforms, even at the beginning of the two thousandth’s media was more independent and more effective.

“Now, many media have not the fourth power, and the organs of state propaganda, or serve in the regions the interests of the ruling elite. Naturally, the Russians are not satisfied, they would like to see greater efficiency in the work of the media in defending their interests and solving urgent problems that concern everyone,” — says the interlocutor of the Agency.