Journalists and bankers are trusted by just 21 per cent of people in the UK. That’s according to an Ipsos MORI poll published in yesterday’s Evening Standard1. However, the place at the bottom of the poll with only 18 per cent of people trusting them – is taken by politicians.It’s a sad reflection on the public perception of journalists that they are on a level with those who almost bought the country to its knees a few years back, and who are only still operating because of the generous bail-outs provided by us – the taxpayers.
While newspapers were slow to point to the coming economic disasters in the last decade, it was of course journalists who first revealed phone hacking and police corruption in the Murdoch titles that lead to the Leveson Inquiry being set up in July 2011. It also put an end to Murdoch’s bid to buy the remaining 61 per cent of shares in BSkyB that he did not own. Since then it is estimated that News Corporation has paid out some £220 million in claims resulting from the revelations.
Doctors came top, trusted by 89 per cent of people. A notable absence from the list is media owners. Can’t think why they were not included!
1. Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,018 GB adults by phone between 9 – 11 February 2013.