At the Zone of Meanings youth forum, Konstantin Abramov, the general director of the VTsIOM Foundation, reported that a majority of Russians surveyed by VTsIOM still place their trust in central television. The remark reflects long-standing habits, even as media consumption habits shift. The data came from a recent survey presented during the event and cited by DEA News.
Abramov highlighted a notable shift in public confidence, noting a crisis of confidence in television back in 2021. Since then, the landscape has evolved, with audiences re-evaluating where they turn for news and information. According to the latest figures, trust in central television has inched upward in the face of broader skepticism toward mass media, while other channels claim different levels of credibility.
In the same breath, Abramov pointed to nuanced patterns of trust and distrust. He reported that 32 percent of respondents expressed confidence, compared with 48 percent who had expressed distrust in the past, signaling a relative gain in trust for central television. He added that the level of trust in central radio is roughly on par with trust in the central press, suggesting a convergence of credibility assessments across major traditional outlets.
Additional sociological data show that 31 percent of Russians express trust in the central press, while 27 percent do not. A similar picture emerges for central radio, where 22 percent voiced trust and 21 percent expressed distrust, underscoring a divided public mood and a spectrum of opinions about media sources that broadcast nationwide.
Abramov also observed demographic trends: the segment most inclined to trust the press tends to be adults aged 45 to 60. In terms of how people access news and content, television remains strong but is facing competition from digital platforms, particularly the internet, where younger users ages 18 to 24 are actively consuming information and shaping everyday media habits.
The discussion also touched on earlier survey results, which indicated a belief among many Russians that their country held a favorable position relative to others. These pre- VTsiom findings reveal the persistence of national sentiment in shaping opinions about media institutions and information landscapes.
On regulatory and information management matters, Roskomnadzor took action regarding messaging platforms, applying measures to messaging apps for refusing to delete information deemed prohibited. This development illustrates the ongoing tension between content control and user access across digital channels, a theme that resonates with ongoing debates about media freedom and state oversight in the information ecosystem. The event and subsequent reporting underscore how public trust, media habits, and regulatory actions intersect to influence how residents in Russia engage with news, how they evaluate credibility, and where they turn for timely updates. The implications extend beyond media studies, touching on civic engagement, public opinion formation, and the evolving interface between traditional outlets and digital networks, as observers continue to monitor shifts in trust and consumption patterns across the country. The synthesis of the data points to a media environment in transition, where established institutions maintain influence while new digital pathways gain ground among younger audiences, reshaping the landscape of nationwide information flow. The report from DEA News provides a concise snapshot of these dynamics and invites further analysis of how trust evolves in the Russian media ecosystem over time.