CITIZENS’ VIEWS ON THE MASS MEDIA IN UZBEKISTAN

On 6 July 2026, the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr” launched a nationwide sociological study aimed at comprehensively examining public attitudes towards the activities of the mass media, the culture of information consumption, and the processes taking place within the country’s information landscape.

Amid the rapid development of the digital information environment, the expansion of new media platforms, the sharp increase in information flows, and the growing influence of the mass media on the formation of public opinion, it is becoming increasingly important to conduct a scientifically grounded assessment of citizens’ sources of information, their level of trust in the media, the criteria they use to select information, and their level of media literacy.

The primary objective of the study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of public attitudes towards the activities of the mass media, current trends in information consumption, levels of trust in various information sources, the ways in which people perceive and evaluate media content, and public opinion regarding the role of the media in society.

The sociological study will examine citizens’ level of interest in events taking place in the country and around the world, the sources through which they follow the news, and patterns of use of television, online publications, Telegram channels, social networks, YouTube, and other media resources. It will also assess the population’s demand for different types of information and their interest in analytical materials, video reports, interviews, infographics, and other information formats.

Particular attention in the research programme is devoted to examining citizens’ views on the social functions of the mass media, the level of freedom of speech and media independence, the conditions created for journalists, current challenges facing the sector, and public proposals for addressing them. In addition, the study will conduct an in-depth analysis of citizens’ exposure to false or misleading information, their ability to distinguish unreliable information from accurate reporting, their level of media literacy, and their views on information security.

The findings of the study will serve as an important empirical source for assessing the effectiveness of the country’s information policy, identifying the population’s needs and expectations in the media sphere, further improving the activities of the mass media, strengthening openness and transparency in the information space, advancing journalism, and developing scientifically grounded proposals and practical recommendations aimed at improving media literacy among the population.