Oh Dear! Trust In Australia’s “Institutions” (Particularly Media) Plummets!
It probably comes as no surprise, but a new study has found Aussies increasingly distrust our key institutions including government, business, media and not-for-profit organisations.
The study, by PR firm Edelman, and titled the 2018 Trust Barometer, found all four institutions are now distrusted, and Australia’s overall Trust Index score is now just four percentage points higher than last-placed Russia.
Australians’ trust in their media is now the second-lowest in the world, behind only Turkey, at 31 per cent, however traditional media and journalists saw double-digit increases in trust, as Australians concerned about fake news return to more credible sources of information.
Media, despite recording another overall decline and sitting at just 31 per cent, saw a divergence in trust over the past year, with trust in traditional media rebounding from 46 per cent to 61 per cent, and credibility of journalists rising from 17 per cent to 28 per cent. Conversely, trust in social media fell to just 23 per cent, and trust in search engines dropped by 11 percentage points to 47 per cent.
In addition to having among the least trusted institutions in the world, a majority (56 per cent) of Australians describe the government as “broken”, with 65 per cent instead now looking to CEOs to take the lead on driving change.
The Trust Barometer, a global survey of people across 28 countries, revealed Australia’s overall Trust Index score is now in the bottom third globally, while together with Singapore, Australia is one of just two nations to register consecutive declines across all four key institutions. Trust in government declined from 37 to 35 per cent, business from 48 to 45 per cent, media from 32 to 31 per cent, and NGOs from 52 to 48 per cent.
Steve Spurr, CEO of Edelman Australia, said: “The decreasing Trust in government is a result of another unsettled year for Australian politics. Government uncertainty over energy supply, citizenship and the royal banking commission, in addition to continued infighting across the political spectrum has resulted in a nation that unfortunately, largely does not trust its government.
“It is deeply troubling that a majority of Australians believe their government is broken, however there is also an opportunity for businesses to stand up for the public on issues they believe are not being addressed.
“Corporate Australia’s strong and unified support for the marriage equality campaign demonstrated the institution’s ability to be a driver of societal change, and may have raised public expectations for future advocacy.”
When it came to media, Spurr noted: “The Trust Barometer found 65 per cent of Australians are no longer sure of what is true, and in an ultra-low trust environment where people are unsure of what to believe, traditional media organisations and journalists are enjoying a resurgence in credibility.”
Latest News
AIA Australia Partners With Yet Another AFL Team
AIA Australia has announced that it is now the official life, health and wellbeing partner to the AFL’s St Kilda Football Club. According to the company, the new partnership will provide club members with learnings, tools, and strategies that they can use to lead healthier lifestyles. Members will at the same time receive access to […]
These Are The Most Engaging Christmas Ads Of 2020
Did your Christmas ad not make this year's top 10? Ready your flimsy excuses for when the client calls with this.
“Ageism Is Alive & Well” Why Ad Veteran Steve Allen’s Appointment Is Proving Such A Big Deal
We won't tolerate ageism in any shape or form here at B&T. But if our editor plays Neil Diamond one more bloody time!
Apple Ads Spark $16M Lawsuit
Apple has been fined $16 million for misleading ads. Tim Cook pays it with loose change from behind the couch.
Seven Heaps More Pressure On Cricket Australia As It Threatens To Sue For “Millions”
Advertise on Seven? Looking forward to your annual knees-up in its corporate box at the cricket? Shelve those plans.
AppsVillage Partners With TikTok To Allow SMBs To Advertise To TikTok’s Aussie Userss
Small to medium sized businesses will now be able to advertise on TikTok through SaaS solutions provider AppsVillage (ASX:APV). APV will allow SMBs to create and manage campaigns on TikTok in under three minutes using its AI software and advertising management platform JARVIS. The partnership makes the most of TikTok’s self-service advertising offering which launched […]
“Jules & Vincent Are Back!” John Travolta & Samuel L Jackson Reprise ‘Pulp Fiction’ In Oddball Christmas Ad
Bank ad reprises classic 'Pulp Fiction' moments. Mercifully sans the Gimp or that scene with the samurai sword.
How People-Based Identity Will Change The Way Marketers Think About Success
Work in marketing? Is your measure of success keeping your gout under control? Think again with this informative read.
DDB Sydney Grows Creative Team By Six
DDB Sydney announce six new recruits and, sad as it is to report, not a hula hooper or sword swallower amongst them.
Guide Dogs Australia Launches ‘An Experiment In Trust’ Via Thinkerbell
Not that it's explicit on the brief, but if there's ever a pitch where you pay it straighty one-eighty it's Guide Dogs.
“This Is A Match Made In Heaven”: Salesforce Acquires Slack For $37.6 Billion
Did your careers adviser suggest tech but you stubbornly chose advertising? Realise the folly of your ways on this news.
Study: Wine Now Aussies’ Favourite Tipple, As We’re Downing 100 Million Alcoholic Bevvies A Week
Here's the latest stats into Australia's drinking habits. B&T staff apparently receiving "high achieving" status.
Verizon Media Sets Out ‘Advertising For Good’ Agenda At 2021 Showcase
B&T was a lucky attendee at the Verizon upfronts last night. Unfortunately, not taking home the garden gnome door prize.
New Campaign Urges Aussie Ad Creatives To Get Real About Gender Equality Messages
Feel terrible your ads aren't inclusive, gender neutral & diverse enough? Feel the screws tighten a little more here.
Psembi Kinstan Joins McCann Melbourne As Executive Creative Director
Highly-awarded Psembi Kinstan joins McCann Melbourne. Thought better of bringing his medals & certificates on first day.
MediaSmiths Appoints Jack Geraghty As Senior Account Planner
Independent media agency MediaSmiths today announced the appointment of another Senior Account Planner to its team as the independent agency continues to grow. Jack Geraghty joins MediaSmiths from Mediacom in Brisbane where he was Media Executive. Geraghty also has digital experience, working as a social media and content coordinator for Space Digital and a content […]
DOUBLESTAR CO Turns Technology Stunning With New Brand Livery For Australia’s Own Advanced Navigation
To keep pace with their transformative technology, Advanced Navigation turned to DOUBLESTAR CO for art direction, 3D modelling and design help that would capture the value proposition and offering of Advanced Navigation: AIR, LAND, SEA & SUB-SEA for their upcoming campaign “Accurate positioning in the most demanding conditions”. Advanced Navigation’s Head of Marketing Romain Pare […]
Nine Announces First Hires For Powered Enterprise
B&T would love to report that Spock, Scotty & Leonard McCoy had been hired for Nine's Enterprise but, alas, not to be.
Tom Pitney Promoted To Strategy Director At Junkee Studio
Junkee Studio, oOh!media’s creative and social agency division, is capitalising on another successful year by announcing the promotion of Tom Pitney to Strategy Director. Pitney will now drive the direction of Junkee’s in-house creative and strategy team, which produces bespoke content solutions for brands to help them tell and share their stories across their owned […]
SMI Data: Footy Grand Finals See Ad Spends Soar For October, As COVID Fears Subside
Finally, it's some good news relating to ad spends! Sadly, it's still all bad news when it comes to China hating on us.
Norwegian Cruise Line Revives Queen’s ‘I Want To Break Free’ In New Global Campaign
Has the thought of chronic dysentery put you off a cruise holiday? Mercifully, COVID's arrived to end those concerns.
Cricket Australia Boss Slams Seven For Talking “Our Wonderful Game Down”
Cricket Australia’s (CA) interim CEO Nick Hockley (main photo) has slammed broadcaster Seven for talking “our wonderful game down”. In a blistering attack on its broadcast partner, Cricket Australia lashed Seven for its ongoing legal stoush as it attempted to exit its four-year deal with the sport. As reported on B&T today, Seven West Media […]
TAC’s Christmas Campaign Via TABOO Urges Victorians To ‘Spend It Wisely’
Road safety meets a time-honoured Christmas tradition with the launch today of the Transport Accident Commission’s ‘Spend it Wisely’ advent calendar initiative, developed in close partnership with Melbourne-based creative agency TABOO. The digital advent calendar provides 25 days of road safety tips, plus offers and discounts to businesses throughout the holiday season, to help Victorians […]
PepsiCo ANZ Appoints New CMO For Snacks & Beverages
PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand has announced the appointment of Vandita Pandey to the newly created role of Chief Marketing Officer for both snacks and beverages. Pandey comes from Frito-Lay (a PepsiCo company) in the United States where she has spent the last 11 years in roles that span across marketing, corporate strategy, insights and […]
Aussie Music Stars Front New Digital Campaign For Destination NSW
A bunch of well-known Aussie musicians have been called upon to feature in a new digital marketing campaign by Destination NSW geared at convincing Australian travellers to take a road trip in the state. Informed by audience insights captured through consumer travel websites Sydney.com and VisitNSW.com, the ‘Road Trips’ campaign uses the top searched items, […]
Why DDB Sydney Is Supporting Advertising Equality Initiative ‘ShEqual’
Struggle to keep up with the latest industry initiatives? Struggle no more with this in-depth synopsis.
Minister Asks ABC Chair To Explain Public Interest Of ‘Inside The Canberra Bubble’ Four Corners Episode
Thought the kerfuffle over Liberal MPs bonking their staff had gone away? The gasoline is only now hitting the match.
Popular With The Brits But A Flop With Locals, Foster’s Vies For Australian Comeback
Australia's most hated beer, Foster's, set for a comeback. Well, apart from XXXX Summer and Heineken Zero that is.
Seven Seeks Internal Emails As Contract Spat With Cricket Australia Escalates
The only winners of these contractual spats are only ever the lawyers. And possibly the lawyers' local BMW dealership.
Subaru Celebrates The Road Less Travelled In New Creative Campaign
Subaru urges Aussies to take a road trip in new campaign. Although car sickness & haemorrhoids sufferers are exempt.
