Post by Media Development Investment Fund

Trust in news has fallen to its lowest level since 2015. That is one of the findings of the University of Oxford and Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism's Digital News Report 2026. For us, having spent three decades investing in public interest information, from legacy newspapers to AI-powered information ventures, this data point is a signal for the direction in which the information landscape is headed. We strongly believe that just as the world cannot afford low trust in clean water or public health, low trust in news and public interest information is unaffordable for the democratic future of the world. And the way forward comes through in another finding from the same report. Across 48 markets, social media and video networks have become the preferred mode of news consumption for 54% of all respondents, overtaking news organizations' own websites and apps at 51%. The report also highlights that 10% of all respondents rely on AI bots for their weekly news consumption. This means that people have not stopped seeking trustworthy information; they have shifted where and how they find it. Over the last few years, we have actively reshaped our investment thesis to include not just what was traditionally known as "media," but the broader systems through which people access facts to make decisions about their lives and their democratic future. This has led us to invest in a diverse range of organizations, from AI-powered news ventures and civic-tech platforms to digital media providers that may not fit the traditional definition of "the press." This report is a reminder that where and how people consume information may change, but the value of accurate information in making sense of the world remains as crucial as ever. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/e-EHJ8PM