Local and regional newspapers remain some of the most trusted news sources in Australia, second only to public broadcasters, according to the University of Canberra’s 2026 Digital News Report.
The report found that 61 per cent of Australians consider local and regional newspapers trustworthy, while just 12 per cent view them as untrustworthy. These results place local news outlets ahead of many major commercial media organisations in terms of public confidence.
Among major newspapers, 46 per cent of respondents said they trusted the Daily Telegraph, while 23 per cent considered it untrustworthy. The Age received a trust rating of 51 per cent, with 17 per cent of respondents expressing distrust.
The findings have renewed calls for greater government support for local and independent journalism, particularly as policymakers examine proposals to direct revenue from a potential tax on global technology companies toward public-interest news organisations.
Tom Mooney, Campaign Director of Democracy Counts, said the results demonstrate the need to ensure smaller publishers are included in any future funding model.
“A tax on tech giants to support public-interest journalism is essential for protecting democracy, but the current proposal must be adjusted so that benefits are not limited to large media companies,” Mr Mooney said.
He noted that Australia has one of the world’s most concentrated media markets and that the closure of hundreds of local and independent newsrooms has left many communities without reliable local news coverage.
According to Mr Mooney, the loss of local journalism creates opportunities for misinformation and AI-generated disinformation to spread unchecked, while reducing public scrutiny of local decision-making and weakening community connections.
The report also revealed higher levels of distrust in news among people living outside major cities, women, Australians under 35, lower-income households and those with lower levels of formal education.
Researchers found a strong relationship between distrust in news and news avoidance, suggesting that people who feel their communities and concerns are not reflected in media coverage are more likely to disengage from news altogether.
“If people do not see issues affecting their local communities represented in the news, trust declines and engagement falls,” Mr Mooney said.
He argued that supporting local and independent journalism is essential to breaking the cycle of media decline, distrust and disengagement.
The findings come as debate continues over the long-term sustainability of local journalism and the vital role public-interest media plays in combating misinformation and strengthening civic participation across Australia.