Canadians are becoming “more careful” to potential biases in news coverage from “mainstream” media, exploring alternative news outlets or reducing overall news consumptionsays Canadian Telecommunications Watchdog.
In response, Canadians are more likely to look for alternative sources of news, watch news, or become “selective” about more political commentary, according to a study originally covered by BlackRock reporters.
More than eight out of ten Canadians surveyed (86%) said they were at least somewhat confident that they could identify misinformation or “fake news,” including 36% who said they were “very confident.” 11% said they were “not very confident” in their ability to find fake news, while 2% were “too” confident.
Media habits
59% of Canadians consumed Canadian news daily, but 25% did it several times a week, 10% did it once a week, and 7% rarely did it. Respondents under the age of 35 were least likely to consume news regularly.
When participants were asked how well Canadian news sources cover different political perspectives, 14% said the media was “very good,” while 43% said “somewhat good.” 21% said they were “not very good,” while 18% said they “do not work at all.”
When asked which specific news source they most trusted, “relatively few” participants gave the answer. The designated news sources included CBC and Radio Canada, CTV, TVA, Reuters, Lapress, and Ledevoir. Some participants said they trusted mostly independent news sources, as opposed to outlets that receive funds from government subsidies, while some participants designated that they are the most reliable. Others noted that there is no single source they trust most, and “they tend to consult with a variety of news sources to see how perspectives differ and to verify the consistency of what is reported.”
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90% of respondents cited “reliability” as their top priority when selecting a news source. 46% identified “easy access” as the key, while 31% explained “timely” and 17% explained “ease of use” as important.
Six major sources have been cited as the most popular ways to consume news. 66% identified online news as the main source, with 15% printing each of 49% cable or satellite television, 46% social media, 43% radio, and newspapers and podcasts.
