A recent feature in Expresso highlights findings from the international research project MeDeMAP – Mapping Media for Future Democracies, in which CICANT/ Lusófona University researchers Nuno Cintra Torres, Tatiana Chervyakova, and Manuel José Damásio take part. The study, conducted in ten European countries, uncovers a significant gap between how journalists and audiences perceive the role and performance of the media.
In Portugal, interviews with media professionals and focus groups with citizens from the Lisbon area reveal that journalists see their work as rigorous, factual, and essential to democracy, while many members of the public express distrust, dissatisfaction, and a sense of disconnection from traditional news outlets.
The research points to several key issues shaping this “mismatch”:
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Trust gap – Journalists value ethical standards and independence, but audiences often doubt media motivations and perceive political or economic influence.
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Changing news consumption – Open television remains the main source of news, followed by the internet, which is often seen as fast but unreliable. Newspapers, print or online, occupy a secondary position.
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Economic pressures – Financial constraints limit investigative journalism and reduce newsroom resources, intensifying the focus on immediate, high-speed news cycles.
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Audience perceptions – Many citizens lament the disappearance of local media, criticise sensationalism, and feel overwhelmed or alienated by political coverage. At the same time, they recognise the essential role of free media in sustaining democracy.
These insights from the Portuguese case are consistent with patterns observed across other European countries in MeDeMAP, underscoring the challenges of rebuilding trust and fostering constructive engagement between media and their audiences.
🔗 Read the Expresso article (in Portuguese): https://expresso.pt/opiniao/2025-08-05-jornalistas-e-publicos-descompasso-de-percepcoes-fd50542d.