As society feels chaotic and divided, the public value journalism more than ever (+20% YoY)
As the UK navigates growing uncertainty, economic pressure and rapid technological change, Newsworks’ latest ‘State of the nation’study shows a nation that feels chaotic (41%) and unsafe (27%), yet still hopeful (24%).
Looking ahead, personal stress is driven mainly by finances (36%), work pressures (31%) and physical health (28%), while seven in ten people say they feel nostalgic for a simpler time in life.
Only 42% of adults feel included in society, but this rises to over half of millennials, who are also more likely to take action, from donating and voting to supporting campaigns.
Attitudes to AI are cautiously optimistic. While 35% see its short-term impact as positive – particularly younger adults – many worry about reduced critical thinking (37%), the spread of misinformation and false content (32%) and a compromise in personal safety (29%). Against this backdrop, trust in professional journalism is clear.
More than eight in ten adults believe it is important that news is created by trained journalists, not influencers or user-generated content. The majority of people agree that human editorial judgement is becoming even more important (84%), journalists play a vital role in tackling misinformation (88%), and professional journalists are more trusted than social media voices (55%).
Despite this, only 7% are confident they can always tell the difference between trained journalists and independent commentators — underlining the growing importance of transparency and professional reporting.
Nine in ten adults say journalism is important to society today – up by 20% on last year’s poll. People value reliable, fact-checked reporting for keeping them informed (70%), helping them navigate complex issues (90%), and holding power to account (80%). Beyond information, journalism also creates connection, supports informed decision-making and reflects shared values.
Heather Dansie, insight director at Newsworks, said: “As the world and the UK face growing uncertainty, economic pressure and huge technological change, our research reveals that journalism continues to play a vital role in helping people stay informed, grounded and connected — even as audiences grapple with stress, division and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.”
The survey also found that more than three in four people agree that advertisers should support quality journalism and newsrooms.
As audiences engage with news across different formats – from articles to podcasts and social media – the findings from Newsworks’ annual survey, which takes a barometer of the nation, show that in an era defined by chaos, complexity and AI, trusted journalism matters more than ever.
Jo Allan, CEO of Newsworks, said: “It is encouraging that the British public’s appreciation for journalism has continued to grow, as is their call for advertisers to back newsrooms and ensure readers can continue to access news they can trust and rely on.”
Newsworks’ ‘State of the nation’ consumer insight poll was conducted by OnePoll among 4,000 adults across two surveys in October and November 2025.
