Abstract

How do the media affect political trust? Studies on the media and their relationship with trust in political institutions tend to focus on just a few types and yield contradictory results. This study thus aims to fill this gap, considering both traditional (television, press and radio) and new media (the Internet and online social networks). Based on pool data gathered by Eurobarometers (2014-2017) and applying a random regression model, it is possible to state that in the media galaxy traditional and the new media play a diversified role in determining citizens’ political trust. Furthermore, traditional media are the information channels that most strengthen the link between public opinion and political institutions.