Has the pandemic changed who UK audiences trust online?<\/p>\n
Ipsos MORI\u2019s 2020 veracity index<\/a> shows that in comparison to 2019, we changed a little in who we trust to tell the truth. The unfortunate news for government ministers and politicians is that UK public trust in their profession remains relatively low at 16% and 15% respectively, despite – or perhaps because – of all the exposure they’ve received.<\/p>\n Ministers and politicians aren\u2019t the only people we\u2019ve come to see on television. Doctors and scientists regularly front announcements too \u2013 and that\u2019s linked to trust. Doctors and scientists are high up on Ipsos MORI\u2019s 2020<\/a> trust barometer – and they were in 2019 too.<\/p>\n Social media accounts from trusted voices really help to amplify key updates. An example of this is the announcement of the authorisation for the Oxford\/AstraZeneca Vaccine. The message received much a much higher level of engagement when quote tweeted from the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, compared to the original from the NIHR account.<\/p>\n Today regulators at MHRA have approved the use of the Oxford\/AstraZeneca vaccine. Many thanks to NIHR-funded researchers from @UniofOxford<\/a> and @AstraZeneca<\/a> who developed the vaccine and all the volunteers taking part in trials https:\/\/t.co\/lnRjgTOCnY<\/a>#priorityCOVIDresearch<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ny2BDjatAf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NIHR Research (@NIHRresearch) December 30, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n